AN: Okay, I know this update has been a looooooooong time in coming. And don't hold your breath. I'm having a busy time irl in school and I don't have so much time for writing anymore. But thanks a bunch to everyone who's stuck around and checked in every so often - I appreciate that! Sorry if this chapters a little shoddy, my usual proof readers haven't picked through it yet since I wanted to get it up quickly. I'll edit it if anything major rears its ugly head! ^_^
Chapter 11
Finally turning into the street where Weiss were staying, Aya helped Omi from the bike and secured it where he had taken it from, and lead the soaked youth to the door. Omi scrabbled with the helmet strap, not being a fashion-conscious person by nature, but in desperate want to get rid of the most horrendous bike helmet to ever have been made. This one was possibly the last one in existence as all the others would have been burned by now in sheer disgust.
Mounting the steps ahead of Omi, Aya pushed the doorbell and heard the scramble from within. Ken had evidently won the race to the door, pulling it open hard and peering out accusingly at the redhead. Yohji's head appeared shortly afterwards, comically at Ken's shoulder. "Omi?! Where've you been?" Ken's voice was a mixture of relief and attempted authority.
Yohji's was pure relief. "Are you okay?"
Omi's response was to simply nod tiredly. Aya, returning to his usual cold and collected self, pushed quietly past Ken and Yohji. "Towel off your hair and go to bed Omi," he murmured. "You can go to school tomorrow if you want to, but I don't advise it."
Omi nodded again, plodding past a surprised Ken and Yohji towards the bathroom, discarding a sodden jacket on his way, to change into nightclothes. In Omi's case this consisted of shorts and a large T-shirt, which he returned in a short while later, his hair ruffled from obedient towelling off. "Oyasumi," [Goodnight,] he murmured before flopping into bed, watched worriedly by Ken and Yohji as he did so. Aya, having discarded his coat and shoes, was lying on his bed, eyes closed, making like he was asleep.
After several minutes of silence had passed, Ken murmured, "Why didn't you leave a note or something Aya?"
The redhead didn't look up. "Should I have done?"
"Yeah, we were worried. We rang and you weren't home, we came home and my bike was missing." Ken sighed in exasperation. "Other people worry about things too Aya. Not just you."
There was a stifling pause, during which the only sound was Omi snoring gently and shifting in his sleep. Yohji sighed and picked up where Ken left off. "How was he?"
Aya sighed, not used to having to console worried friends. "Cold, afraid and ill." He opened his violet gaze and glared at Ken and Yohji in turn. "We didn't argue, don't worry. He came with me willingly." Aya closed his eyes again, a light frown pulling at his lips. "Tomorrow we may have words. But not right now. He's more mature than he lets on."
Yohji and Ken looked to each other quizzically. Aya was, to put it bluntly, confusing. Couldn't he make up his mind what he thought of Omi? Surely that would help the boy, even if letting him know he had every right to yell and scream at the redhead. As it stood, Omi couldn't be sure what reaction he was supposed to give.
Ken looked down and sighed a little, but refrained from passing comment, unsure what comment to actually pass. Yohji too seemed to have taken the same attitude, pushing a few strands of blonde from his eyes mutely.
"What am I supposed to say to him?"
Yohji and Ken blinked towards Aya cautiously as the man spoke, his violet gaze open and glaring at the ceiling. He continued, his voice hard and cold. "What am I supposed to say to him? I'm doing it all wrong, I can tell by the way you're looking at each other." He glanced at Yohji accusingly, and the blonde lowered his gaze to the floor, studying his toes. "So what am I supposed to say?"
Ken frowned a little at the repetition of the phrase. Could Aya possibly be insecure? It was a curious thought, for the redhead, the 'leader' as it was, to be unsure about anything. Giving a brotherly smile Ken looked down and then back to Aya. "Say whatever comes naturally Aya." He held up a hand quietly as Aya glared and opened his mouth to object. "'What I tell children about my own affairs' is not what would come naturally, Aya. Omi cares what you think about him, contrary to popular belief. I think you have to understand that, or this situation is not going to get any better any time soon."
Aya's reaction to that assessment was to narrow his gaze at the soccer player for a few moments, before snorting and returning his gaze to the ceiling. However, Ken couldn't have sworn he hadn't seen a brief nod before Aya's gaze left his. Looking towards Yohji, Ken shrugged. What was he supposed to do now? Anything? Nothing?
Probably nothing. It would be less hazardous. Ken smiled slightly at the thought. He was always the one for a challenge. In the light of this, some sort of action was called for. The question was, what?