Act Two

'Bloody hell!'

'Huh?'

Several heads poked out of the little rooms lining the corridor to see what had happened. A man was standing over several shards of broken ceramic with a murderous look on his face. Oddly, though, he was still holding a piece recognisable as a handle.

Liquid around his ankles steamed, and he stepped back swiftly.

Several giggles were heard emanating from rooms. This man was not popular in the orphanage.

The man glared briefly at the little group of children who had just passed him before his mug had cracked and exploded in his hand. They avoided his gaze, all except one, who turned briefly, and smiled, his deep blue eyes flashing conspiratorially. Then he too turned away and kept walking.

**

'Funny stuff seems to happen when that kid's around, doesn't it Ken?' said a fair-haired little girl who was trying to plait all the hair on her only toy, a longhaired toy rabbit.

Ken looked up.

'Which one?'

'The really, really small one with the spooky eyes,' said the girl with the casual cruelty of youth, her fingers fumbling.

Ken thought. He'd never seen anything like that, and said so.

'I think he's scary,' continued the girl, whose name was Midori, 'the grown-ups think so too. I've seen how they look at him on Adoption day.'

Ken's heart suddenly went out to this boy, whoever he was. He couldn't possibly be as 'spooky' as Midori was making out.

'Yeah, well, we haven't been adopted either, so does that make us 'spooky'?' he said sharply, annoyed at the girl for her judging attitude.

'I'm not spooky! Don't be mean!' Midori snatched her rabbit up and stalked away, leaving Ken alone on the floor of the room he shared with her and eight other children.

'She's so annoying,' came a voice from a bed above Ken. He looked up. Toji's head poked out. 'Girls are so mean.'

Ken thought.

'D'you know who she was talking about?'

'Yeah, sure. He is really little, that's true, but he's not scary. He's really clever.'

Ken suddenly tired of the topic.

'It's nearly playtime, d'you wanna play with me?'

'Sure, Ken! I'll get Fujii and Tatsuya too, then we can have two teams!'

Ken grinned. They always played football in playtime. It was the only game all four of them knew.

**

'Ken! C'mon, you're spacing out!' Yohji's hand waving up and down in front of his face snapped Ken back to reality. He jumped.

'Geez, Yohji, what is it already?'

'We're closing, baka. Y'know, the thing we do everyday when the day is over?'

Ken made a face as he turned. He reached for a pot and slid it onto a high shelf, thinking as he did so that being tall was very useful.

He looked around. Aya was taking the last few purchases and orders. Yohji was sweeping. Woah, Kodak moment, Yohji doing some work. Omi wasn't on shut down tonight. He himself was tidying.

The last customers left the shop. Aya locked the till and stretched, yawning.

'Quiet tonight,' Yohji commented, sweeping petals and stems into a dustpan.

'Mmm.' Ken agreed, then spotted Aya beginning to pull down the heavy shutters.

'Hey, Aya! Omi's still out!'

'I did ask him to be in by eight,' Aya muttered, but stopped lowering the shutters for a second, before continuing.

'We can't leave the shutters open,' he said finally, and stepped back. Ken glared at him briefly.

'You could always wait here for him to come back, Ken,' said Yohji mockingly, 'if you're so concerned.'

'Omi's all grown up, Ken,' Aya said quietly, 'he'll be okay.'

'If you say so,' Ken relented, and followed the other two downstairs.

**

'Ken, you're too fast!' Fujii whined as Ken ran ahead of him. Ken just grinned at him, and slowed a little so he had a chance.

His friend whooped and deftly stole the ball from him. Fujii was good, but he just wasn't a fast runner.

The whistle blew for the end of playtime, and the children trudged back inside. Some of them, including Toji, Fujii, Ken and Tatsuya, were very muddy.

Their dorm mother clucked in exasperation.

'Must you enjoy your playtime quite so much?' she sighed, looking at the boys' dirty clothes.

They knew, however, that she was nice really. She brought them chocolate sometimes.

That night, when everyone was tucked up in bed and the lights were out, Ken had nearly fallen asleep when a voice called to him.

'Ken?'

'Wha…?' he rolled over.

It was Tatsuya, in the bed opposite. His eyes were open, although he was lying down.

'What d'you reckon happens to kids who never get adopted?'

Ken blinked.

'Err…I don't know. I kinda assumed everyone gets adopted eventually.'

'But what if no one wants you?' The younger boy sounded close to tears.

'Are you worried no one'll want you?' he asked softly.

He heard a sob from the other bed, 'Uh huh.'

Ken slipped out of bed and padded over to his friend's bed, then reached forward and took his hand. Tatsuya turned his damp face towards him.

'You don't need to worry,' said Ken sincerely, 'really you don't. There are people out there for you.'

'What about you?'

Ken stopped, thinking.

'Yeah, I guess I'll have a place to go too.'

'Th-Thanks Ken…'

'It's all right. Go to sleep Tatsuya, 'kay?'

''Kay. G'night Ken.'

'Night, Tatsuya.'

Ken walked back to his bed and clambered back into it. He heard Tatsuya's sniffs trail off, to be replaced by regular breathing. He was asleep. Ken rolled over, and joined him.

**

Ken flicked the switch on the kettle and opened cupboards, looking for coffee. When he found it he took it down and put it on the table.

'This is stupid. You're being stupid.'

He ignored the little internal jibe and picked up the now-boiled kettle. When he'd made his coffee, he picked up a book from the little shelf behind the kitchen door and looked at it.

Huh, some no-brainer whodunnit. It would do. He walked back up into the shop and turned the lights on. He shivered slightly. It was getting a bit cold. He hoped Omi would get back soon. He didn't know whether or not he'd taken a jacket.

'For God's sake…'

Oh shut it, brain, Ken thought, settling into a chair and beginning his wait.

**

'Come on in, Ken.'

The eleven-year old stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him.

The manager (because kids never knew what else to call him) was sat behind his desk. Ken gulped. He hoped that he hadn't found out about that window that he'd broken last week…

'Sit down.'

He did. The manager leaned forward over the desk, his head resting on his clasped hands.

'How's your game, Ken?' he asked.

'Damn, this is about the window…' Ken thought.

'It's fine… erm, Sir? I'm really sorry about the window…'

The man looked puzzled.

'Which window?'

Ken looked at him in surprise.

'Th-The one next to the kitchen…'

'Oh that.' The man smiled, 'never mind about that, it's all insured.'

'OK.' Ken assumed that 'insured' meant 'fixed'.

'No, the reason I asked you is that I've just had a very interesting offer from this gentleman, concerning you.'

Ken looked up sharply. He hadn't noticed the other man in the room. The man walked forward. He was much younger than the manager. Ken guessed he was about twenty.

'Nice to meet you, Ken,' he said pleasantly, 'my name is Kurigawa, and I work at the Sports College.'

'Err…hello,' Ken said, reaching out unsurely and taking the hand that was offered to him.

'Kurigawa-san coaches football at the College,' Manager said.

'Oh,' said Ken, looking at the man differently. He smiled.

'Can I have a chat with Ken-kun?' Kurigawa asked the Manager. He nodded.

'Take as long as you like.'

Ken followed Kurigawa out of the room, still not sure exactly what was happening.

**

He was, Ken knew, an idiot. He didn't like coffee.

He looked at his mug in distaste, but sipped at it anyway, because the air was cold. He flicked the book open. God, he was bored already, but the idea of going back downstairs didn't even enter his head. He needed to make sure Omi could get in OK.

Turning pages absently, he found his mind wandering off the plot and back in time to when he'd been around twelve. He smiled at the memory. A visitor had come to the orphanage. Ken couldn't recall his name, but he'd offered Ken something truly amazing, a ticket out of the place.

Ken remembered looking at the man in a puzzled way, just before he'd explained what a scholarship was.

He'd passed the scholarship, and had left the orphanage to go and board at the college. He was the last of his friends to leave.

Life at the college had been great. His coach liked him, and he in turn was enthusiastic and cheerful, turning up to every practice, even when it was raining and everyone else was moaning.

The coach had put him in goal experimentally one day, and he'd found that it was what he was best at, so when he was selected for the team, that was the position he was assigned.

Ken laid back, the book and coffee forgotten.

Yeah, life had been great. He'd been on the road to success, working his way up from a non-start orphan to international level goalkeeper. Then he'd been spotted by a talent scout after a school match, who made him an offer he couldn't believe.

He'd thanked his coach wholeheartedly, who'd replied that he would really miss him, but he wished him every success.

Ken suddenly snapped back to reality.

'But that didn't happen…' he sighed. No point in moping about and reliving the past. He may have been a top-class footballer at one time, but now he was nothing but a murderer. He picked up his coffee cup and drank it all, pushing the depressing thoughts out of his mind, and replacing them with other thoughts.

'I'm hungry… C'mon Omi…'

He smiled a little. Yeah, he had something good here too. A little family who all looked out for each other. Like he was looking out for Omi.

He'd always looked out for younger kids, even back at the orphanage, he suddenly remembered, but before he could continue that thought, a slight tapping on the metal shutters shook him fully awake.

He got up and walked over to the door, listening. He heard a soft sigh, and said, 'Omi, is that you?'

'Yeah,' he heard Omi's voice reply.

'Just a sec,' he called, turning the handle and grumbling about Aya. As soon as he shutters were about halfway up, he saw Omi's head and shoulders appear as he ducked under the barrier. Checking he was all the way inside, Ken began to turn the handle the other way.

'Thanks,' he heard Omi say. He saw him straighten up out of the corner of his eye and look around the empty shop.

Ken stood up straight again, and saw that Omi was looking at him. His blue eyes were questioning.

'Did you really wait here for me?' he asked in a surprised voice.

'Great, it's just like Aya said, he'll probably be offended now…'

'Well, yeah, I didn't want you to be stuck out there.' Ken went for honesty.

The younger boy shrugged dismissively.

'Oh I'd've got in,' he said, and Ken's face fell.

'Big dumb idiot, told you…'

He was about to apologise, when he saw Omi was looking at him again, a hint of a smile on his face.

'But thank you very much, Ken-kun!'

Ken's inner nagging voice fell silent. That had made it all worthwhile.

'Don't worry 'bout it,' he told Omi, picking up his mug and book. He walked towards the door, then turned and grinned at his friend.

'C'mon, we've all been waiting for you to get back so we can eat.'

This seemed to rouse Omi from the thoughtful silence he'd fallen into.

'You didn't have to wait,' he said, but Ken laughed dismissively.

'Of course we did,' he said sincerely, 'Dinner's not complete without all four of us. P.S. Could you walk a little faster? I'm starving.'

He said this just to try and get Omi to smile again. Sure enough, he did.

'Yeah, I'm coming,' he said, and the two of them walked into the kitchen.

**

'That was great, Ken! Just keep playing like that and we're going through for sure!'

Ken grinned at the coach. He knew they were doing well. He'd saved enough in the first half to make his job easier in the upcoming second half. He began to walk towards the changing rooms to chat to his teammates, when a man dashed to his side out of a passing group of substitutes.

'Ken! You were great out there! Way to go!'

Ken smiled.

'Thanks Kase. Shame about you not getting to play.'

'Yeah well,' the man said quietly, 'my day'll come.'

He seemed to shake himself.

'Hey, Ken, man, you look thirsty, have a drink.'

'Oh great, thanks Kase.'

**

Ken heard Aya enquiring as to whether Omi was all right over dinner, but, as he suspected, Omi responded in the positive.

'There's definitely something up with him…' he thought absently. He heard Omi get up and excuse himself, and thank them for waiting.

Ken suddenly felt helplessly embarrassed, and he didn't know why. He didn't look up as Omi left the room.

Ken got up and excused himself a few minutes after Omi had left. He thanked Aya as well, because he'd cooked. He wondered briefly how Omi had known that without asking.

He flopped down on the sofa in the downstairs room, flicking through the TV guide. There was nothing on, really, except a comedy film in about half an hour. An idea formed in his head. He put the guide back down and got up.

**

'Oh, just what is he thinking!?'

The commentator's disbelieving voice filled everyone's ears. That was the third time that the goalie hadn't even attempted to stop a shot. He just stood, staring straight ahead and trembling slightly.

The next shot caught him on the leg, but rebounded in anyway. He slumped to the ground, his vision blurring.

'What's…happening…?'

Ken attempted to get up, but his muscles weren't listening to him. He lay, helplessly, on the ground.

The match ended. They'd been hammered, and it was his fault. Ken struggled to stand. A defender from his team ran over to him. Ken thought hard… His name was… it was…

'Ken! Ken! It's me Tito! Look at me, man!'

But Ken couldn't lift his head. Tito yelled for a paramedic as the press began to close in.

**

'Did you hear? Some footballer in the J-League tested positive for drugs! He's gonna be chucked out for sure!'

It was in loads of papers. Ken couldn't step outside without being plagued. It didn't matter that Kase and Tito believed him. The fact was that in the eyes on everyone else, he was guilty.

He knew he'd be kicked out. The team couldn't survive with him still in the ranks. As he'd been collecting his stuff, he'd looked up and seen Tito in the doorway. The look on his face was murderous.

'I just hope they catch the bastard that did this to you, Ken,' he said. Ken nodded, and reached out a hand. Tito took it, and they shook.

'Good luck, Tito, and thanks,' Ken said, dully.

'Good luck, Ken,' Tito said.

**

Ken took the stairs two at a time. He poked his head around Omi's door. The boy was just sitting on his chair, looking vacantly at his hands, which were clasped in his lap.

'Definitely not right…'

'Omi?'

The boy jumped in fright and half fell off his chair. Ken ran forward and grabbed his arm.

'Geez! Sorry!' He pulled him back onto his chair.

Omi just stared at him.

'Sorry,' said Ken, feeling awkward, 'are you working?'

The other boy shook his head.

'Can't concentrate,' he muttered.

Ken nodded. It fit.

'Well, uh, the reason I came to see you is that there's that Austin Powers movie on, I wondered if you wanted to watch it with me. It's on the TV, I mean.'

Great, his ability to construct sentences appeared to have failed him. Omi didn't seem to notice, however, and just glanced at the work on his desk.

Ken's heart sank.

'Didn't Aya or Yohji want to watch it?' Omi said finally. That was definitely a hint, Ken thought.

'I didn't ask them,' he said truthfully.

'You didn't?' Omi seemed astonished.

'No, I wanted to watch it with you,' Ken said, feeling braver, 'Are you coming?'

Omi stood up and his mood appeared to lighten. He even smiled.

'Sure!' he said.

**

'Ken! Ken! Listen to me! I've found out who did it!' Ken spun around and looked hard at the other man, whose face was determined.

'Seriously?'

'Yeah! We just have to meet some people here!' Kase waved a piece of paper in front of Ken's nose. He snatched it out of the air skilfully and read it.

'A warehouse?' he asked doubtfully. Kase nodded.

'C'mon, Ken, it's worth it. We can finally find out who did this to you!'

Ken nodded slowly.

'I guess I'll see you there,' he said.

**

'Kase?' Ken looked around.

'I'm over here.' Ken walked over to his friend, who was looking around too.

'They didn't show,' Ken said dully.

'No! They will, let's just wait a little…'

'Kase!' Ken yelped in horror as the man who'd been standing on a crate behind his friend brought down the bar he was holding on Kase's head.

He himself was grabbed from behind and thrown to his face. He groaned and tried to get up, only to see Kase being dragged away by a group of men. There was a strong smell of petrol, and Ken saw one of the men had a can in his hand.

'Ken!' Kase cried in terror.

One of the men reached in his pocket and drew out something. Ken struggled to get up, but then the man threw it. It was a lighter. The petrol all around him ignited instantly.

'KASE!' He screamed.

**

Ken and Omi sat watching the film in a companionable silence. Ken smiled to see Omi laughing again. He really hadn't been himself lately.

Omi turned towards him.

'What?' he asked. He must have seen Ken watching him.

'Oh… nothing really,' Ken replied, as lightly as he could, 'I was just thinking how it's great to hear you laugh again. You been kinda down lately.'

'I have?'

'You idiot… He's fine, told you…'

But Ken carried on, 'well, I thought you weren't quite yourself… all quiet and stuff…' He stopped. God he sucked at this sort of thing.

There was a short silence, then a nagging question popped into his head.

'Say Omi, how'd you ever get caught up in all this?'

He kept his head down.

'It just doesn't seem to add up…'

And to him, it didn't. He was here because he was a screw up, and this was the only path available to him after his fall. But Omi was young, for him, the opportunities were endless…weren't they?

'Oh well,' he heard Omi say, 'you don't know anything.'

Ken let out a sigh. Omi had put up barriers with an almost audible clang.

'No, I guess I don't,' he said, resignedly.

He could see Omi looking at him out of the corner of his eye, but resolved not to meet his gaze. Then Omi spoke.

'Ken-kun, I'll admit… I've been thinking about…y'know… my childhood …recently.'

Ken looked up. He had?

'Really? Is it bothering you?' He said quietly.

'I just… can't help wondering what would've happened if things had been different.' Omi said softly.

'I think every one of us must've thought that at some point… What if I hadn't drunk that water…?'

But all Ken said was, 'Mmm?'

'Well, y'know…' Omi continued, 'If I'd been born elsewhere…If someone else…'

He seemed to force himself to stop. Ken wondered why.

'Well…I dunno about that, Omi,' Ken said.

He thought.

'But I guess that would mean we would've never met.'

'Geez, I'd've actually gone mental if I'd been kicked out and hadn't met him…'

Ken's thoughts shocked him.

'I guess,' Omi said quietly.

They sat in silence for a while, ignoring the film.

'I can't even begin to guess what you went through, Omi,' Ken found himself saying, 'but isn't it worth something, because we're a team - You, Aya, Yohji and me?'

Omi didn't answer for a bit, and Ken began to feel depressed. God, how could this boy keep doing that to him?

He was shocked a second later as he felt Omi's arms wrap around him.

'Hey!' he cried, startled, but couldn't help but lay an arm over his friend as he lay against him.

'I'm glad I know you.'

Omi's voice was very quiet.

'I guess it was worth it.'

Lost as to how to answer, Ken just hugged Omi a bit tighter.

'One day…' Omi said suddenly, '…I'll tell you everything. I promise.'

Ken blinked. That was a very big promise. He felt slightly awed.

'Omi, you don't have to…' he said weakly, but he felt Omi's hand on his mouth, silencing him. He looked down into Omi's blue eyes.

'No Ken, that's a promise.'

'O-OK… Then I promise I'll tell you about me someday as well.'

Ken shut his eyes. Now what had he done? He would have to keep the promise, but he didn't want Omi's pity.

'Only if you want to,' Omi replied.

Ken saw Omi look up at him briefly, then away again. It was so nice to be so close to him like this…

He realised, with an odd jerk, that his feelings for his younger friend had moved beyond brotherly affection. He wanted to protect him… Keep him safe from all the shit in their lives. He reached out to touch his head, but stopped himself. Omi didn't notice. He seemed to be avoiding his gaze.

'Omi?' he said, trying to keep his voice level. The other boy looked up a tad reluctantly, and Ken noticed there was a slight pinkness to his cheeks.

'Uh?' he replied coherently.

But Ken's voice wouldn't say what he wanted it to, and instead came out with, 'Are you comfy there?'

To his surprise, Omi replied in a truthful voice, 'Uh…yeah, actually.'

And then he couldn't look away. Ken found that Omi's blue eyes had captured him.

'I just want to keep you safe…'

He lowered his head and brushed his lips against his friend's in a soft kiss. He felt Omi jump in surprise, but then begin to respond.

He felt Omi's lips on his, kissing him back, and felt his arms tighten around his neck.

'Omi…'

This was bliss. Omi responded to him like no one else had before. When Ken gently pushed him down and kissed him a little more firmly, he heard the other boy whimper in pleasure, encouraging him. He nuzzled his jaw and began to gently kiss the soft skin of Omi's neck.

He heard the other boy swallow a yelp and felt him start to move against him, his arms coming around him and pulling him closer.

And then…

'WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?'

'Shit…'

He pulled away, although it nearly broke his heart to do so.

'Oh my God, Omi, I'm so, so sorry! Shit!' There was really nothing else he could say.

He watched shock register on Omi's face as well as he sat back up again. Ken watched in self-hatred as Omi put his face in his hands.

'It wasn't just you,' Omi said without feeling, 'it was my fault too…'

'I'm sorry,' Ken gasped, 'I really am. Shit, Omi, I dunno what I was thinking!'

'You weren't thinking,' Omi said dully, 'I know I wasn't.'

Ken could only nod miserably.

'Look,' he heard Omi say, 'let's just forget about it.'

Ken looked at him in amazement.

'You what!? You think I can forget that?'

'Why not? I can,' Omi said levelly, and Ken looked away and wouldn't meet his gaze.

'He can forget that…? Did it really mean nothing to him at all? I was in heaven… I just wanted to protect you…'

He watched as Omi put a hand on his neck, as if remembering.

**

'Ken Hidaka?'

'Who's there?' he cried, his voice hoarse from shouting.

A woman stepped forward. Her dark hair was loose over her shoulders. She wore a smart trouser suit.

Ken had been alone for at least two days. No one used this warehouse anymore. He'd tried moving, but his hands throbbed unbearably whenever he did, and his head hurt.

She held out her hand and helped him to his knees.

'Can you make it outside?' she asked, 'there's a car waiting.'

'Who are you?' Ken asked. Maybe, he reasoned, he had finally gone crazy.

'I'm Bagheera,' the woman said, and began to help him to walk.

He thought.

'Like…the panther from the Jungle Book?' he asked. He had gone crazy.

'Yes, that's right,' the woman said. She hadn't been lying. A black car stood waiting outside.

Previous bad experiences made Ken stop.

'What d'you want?' He asked harshly.

'First of all, we want to get your injuries treated, then, we'll offer you a job.'

'A job? How did you find me?'

'Let's just say, you're special.'

Ken made no further protests as he was placed in the car.

**

'How's that?'

Ken flexed his hand. The bandages stayed put.

'Good thanks.' He said. The nurse began to wrap one around his head.

He'd been broken. His friendly attitude had disappeared and he simply did what he was told. He'd said that to the nurse because that was what she wanted to hear.

The nurse vanished out of a side door, and Bagheera entered.

'How d'you feel?'

He felt he owed this woman the truth.

'Like shit, inside and out.'

'You've had a crap time,' she said sympathetically, 'and right now you probably want answers, and I'm quite willing to answer any questions, but first, let me tell you a little about what we want from you.'

So Ken sat and listened for a good fifteen minutes while Bagheera spoke. When she was done, he said, 'and why d'you think I'd be good for this job?'

She smiled at him shrewdly.

'Well, you want to do it, don't you?' she said, 'that's a start.'

Ken opened his mouth to contradict her, then shut it again. She was right, he did want to do it. He wanted to be able to do something about all the scum in the world. But killing people…

'Yeah,' he said, 'I want to do it.'

'Good,' she said, 'of course, you won't be alone, and you'll be instructed, but you're already fit, so that won't be a problem. Here's your key.'

Ken nodded and took it. He felt like his life was going on and dragging him with it. He sighed and looked at the ground. Yeah, whatever they wanted was fine. He'd stopped caring ages ago.

To his surprise, there was a tap on the door. He looked towards it. Bagheera, who seemed to have been expecting it, sat down behind the desk and merely said, 'Come in, Omi.'

The door opened, and a little figure came in, shutting the door behind him. Bagheera looked up at the boy.

'Good day at school?' she asked. The boy nodded, and Ken looked up at him.

'School? How old is this kid?'

'Let me introduce you,' Bagheera said, 'Omi, this is Ken Hidaka. Ken, Omi Tsukiyono.'

Ken nodded to the boy, unsure of what to say, and the boy looked like he was trying to smile, but it didn't quite come out right.

'You two are going to be working together,' Bagheera continued. Ken saw the boy look up at her suddenly, and she must have seen it, because she proceeded to speak just to him, and nodded and said, 'Yes, it's started now.'

Ken wondered what she meant by that. The boy, Omi, seemed to understand, but he didn't appear to like what he understood.

'Well, now I've introduced you two, I'll leave the rest to you, Omi. Could you show Ken where he'll be staying? He has the key.'

Ken watched as the boy nodded, then jumped to his feet.

'Oh!' he cried, although Ken couldn't see why, 'Yes, Bagheera-san.' He bowed. His voice was light and pleasant.

Ken stood up as well, his burns complaining at him. He saw the boy looking at him apprehensively.

'Um…d'you wanna follow me?' he asked. Ken nodded and followed him out of the room.'

'See you later,' Bagheera called after them.

Outside, Omi turned towards Ken and mumbled, 'Uhh…does your key have a number on it or something?'

Ken hesitated, then reached in his pocket and pulled it out. He read the number on it.

'It says 475,' he said.

They began to walk. Omi had made no answer to his reply, and he was beginning to get uneasy.

'This kid's afraid of me…'

Then Omi's voice jerked him out of his depressed thinking.

'Hello, Persia-san,' he called out. A man further down the corridor turned and smiled.

'Hello, Omi, who's this?' He said. His voice was deeper, but a bit like Omi's, Ken realised.

'I'm Ken Hidaka,' he said politely, the man called Persia nodded.

'Good to make your acquaintance, Ken,' he said, 'My name's Persia, although Omi may have given that away. I'm your co-ordinator.'

Ken nodded.

'Won't be long now, my friends,' Persia said, beginning to walk away.

**

'Here you go,' Omi said, again attempting to smile, but failing. Ken walked into the room, slightly sad. He was willing to bet that Omi had a really nice smile.

'Thanks, Omi,' he said, and the other boy just stared at him, then appeared to shake himself and laughed a bit.

'Sorry,' he said, 'I'm not used to new people.'

'Omi…are you scared of me?'

The boy laughed a little, but it was weak.

'No, of course not.'

'Good,' Ken said, 'because, y'know, I'm not at all scary, really.'

'You've got to go here tomorrow,' Omi said, seemingly desperate to change the subject, 'combat training. I'll come and get you.'

He didn't sound like he was looking forward to it. He handed Ken a piece of paper. Then he turned.

'I'll see you tomorrow, I guess,' he said, before shutting the door. Ken heard his footsteps carry him away at a run, and sighed.

He stretched. What a weird day, and the following weeks were going to be even weirder. He let his arms fall by his sides, yawning.

**

'Sheesh!'

Even with his quick reflexes, Ken always had a hell of a time trying to keep up with Omi. He jumped back. The kid was so damn quick. He grinned. He had him this time 'though. As Omi brought his arm around, Ken grabbed it and flipped the kid on his back, winding him. Immediately he felt bad, and let go, but Omi was up in a flash, and then it was he who was on his back, groaning. Omi sat on him.

'Yield!' Ken gasped, and Omi got off. Ken brushed himself down.

'You're too damn fast,' he said, but he smiled. Omi looked at him. Ken hadn't complimented him before.

'I've got a head start on you,' he said offhandedly. Ken's ears pricked.

'How much?' he asked nonchalantly, but Omi shot him a tiny glare, and he knew why. He wasn't supposed to ask that kind of question.

Omi began to walk away. The practice was over. Ken suddenly called to him.

'Omi? Why don't you like me?' The boy turned, and to his astonishment, he looked embarrassed.

'I do like you,' he said quietly.

'You do?' Ken was confused. He'd always acted with indifference or fear before, but the fear had evaporated when Omi'd found out he could beat Ken at almost anything.

'Yeah,' said the boy. Ken didn't know what to say. He shuffled his feet.

'Hey, Ken,' the boy said, making him jump, 'd'you want another match?'

'OK,' Ken said, 'but I thought the idea was that we were supposed to learn to fight together.'

'That comes later,' said Omi, surprising Ken with his confident tone and how much he appeared to know.

'Oh, all right,' Ken said, then he grinned. 'I'm gonna win this time, you just wait!'

Omi smirked.

'Yeah, right,' he said. Ken hadn't won yet.

But this time was different. Ken was truly paying attention. He watched Omi closely and figured out exactly what he was going to do next. Omi found this infuriating.

'Grr…' He mumbled, as Ken dodged again. Then grabbed at his wrist and twisted it up behind his back… and didn't let go.

Omi was shocked. Ken wasn't going to let go… and if he didn't, then he'd have to yield or his wrist would snap.

'Yield,' he muttered. Ken let him untwist his arm, but kept hold of his arm.

'Sorry, Omi,' he said, 'but I had to win, just once. Are you OK?'

'Of course I am,' Omi muttered, wondering why Ken hadn't let go of his arm yet. He did so now, and with the same hand, fluffed Omi's hair teasingly. Omi blinked, then, without any input from his brain, a big smile appeared on his face.

Ken smiled back. He'd been right, it was nice.

'Good match, Ken-kun,' Omi said pleasantly. Ken blinked.

'Thanks, Omi-kun,' he replied, and Omi suddenly felt very happy. He was going to enjoy being friends with Ken.

**

'Omi's getting on well with the new kid, isn't he?'

Ken stopped. He didn't feel he should walk around the corner into a conversation about him. He began to walk silently back the way he'd just come.

'Yes,' he heard Persia's voice reply, 'he's really friendly, isn't he? Takes after his mother…'

Ken stopped walking and listened.

'Really? Was Kikuno friendly?'

Persia laughed sadly, 'Oh yes, she was an angel. Reiji didn't deserve her, and neither did I…'

Ken froze.

'Huh?!'

'D'you regret it, Shuichi?' he heard the other voice ask. He recognised it as Bagheera.

'So…Persia's real name is Shuichi…?'

'Not for a second,' Persia said firmly, 'It's like Kikuno's still here, in a way…'

'But Omi can never ever know who you are…' Bagheera's voice was sad.

'That's best. He's a smart kid. He'll figure out who his family are eventually, but hopefully he'll think that… well, you know, is his father. He can never know the truth.'

Ken swallowed. Omi could never know that his father had been by his side all along.

Ken knew nothing of Omi's past, but now he knew quite a lot about his family. He felt heavy, as though responsibility had settled on his shoulders. He couldn't tell Omi, ever. This would be really difficult. He and Omi were getting on brilliantly now.

After the first few stilted weeks, it was like they'd known each other their whole lives. Ken had never had a best friend, but in Omi he thought he'd found one. He hoped they'd still know each other years from now.

He kept walking, trying to forget what he'd just heard, his hand running absently over the plumage of the bronze eagle that stood in the corner of the corridor as he passed.

**

It was too dark, but Ken knew that if the lights were on, the eagle would be blazing brightly. It was always kept pristine. He kept walking. He didn't know why, but it seemed to make sense. He was looking for Omi, so he would start at the beginning, where they'd met nearly two years ago. He walked the dark corridors, listening.

He was really worried. Omi had simply disappeared in the aftermath of the Reiji Takatori mission. Ken had had his dream job for a little while, but realised that it just didn't mean anything to him without his best friend.

He thought guiltily about the strange moment they'd had in the downstairs room. Nobody, male or female, had ever felt so right, so good, in his arms and against his lips. He would give anything to feel Omi that way again.

For now, 'though, he'd settle for finding him.

He wracked his memory…it had been room…470. He walked over to it and opened the door.

**