The redhead had looked at him with suspicion , obviously thinking that he was trying to pick up the brunette .
He remembered Schuldich mentioning that Ken had a redhead brother . Hmm ... and he wasn't half bad-looking either . He eyed Aya appreciatively , but snapped his attention back to the brunette whose tired eyes were gazing up at him in curiosity .
" What'll you have ?" The red-haired barman snapped , his violet eyes turning into dangerous slits .
" No thanks ." Yohji grinned , turning on all his charm . " I'm driving tonight ." He faced Ken , whose head was drooping on the surface of the bar .
The kid looked totally wiped out .
" Are you Ken ?" He asked .
" Yeah ." The boy replied , his voice was a little hoarse . Yohji noted . Maybe he was as devastated about this whole deal as Schuldich was ... maybe he was even more devastated than Schuldich , he couldn't tell .
" What do you want from him ?" The redhead snapped , he was gripping the neck of a brandy bottle tightly , a white rag in his other hand .
What the hell is this ? Twenty questions ? Police interrogation ?
He had thought the redhead looked good , but he didn't know the guy was such a bulldog .
Yohji ignored Aya and said softly . " Schuldich hasn't been the same since you left him , Ken ."
The large grey eyes flickered for a moment , but the hazel-haired boy didn't say a word .
" He deserves a second chance . People make mistakes , Ken ." Yohji's eyes examined the boy in front of him , he was beautiful too . Even the best of Schuldich's print didn't quite do justice .
He felt the pinpricking glare of the redhead resting on his profile but snubbed it .
" If you loved him even just a little ... you would give him another chance . Please . As his friend , I implore you ." Yohji had knelt to level with the pale face , noting all the confused emotions so openly marked in those features .
He was still so young , so vulnerable . But in paradoxically , he had a strength that many people didn't have and Yohji admired that .
There was a moment of silence . Both men waiting for the response of the brunette , each not daring to breathe ...
It was an eternity before the boy gave him a weak nod .
Yohji grinned widely and offered his hand to the boy . Ken took his hand and raised himself to his feet , but wavered and almost collapsed against the bar . The barman was immediately at his side , all concern , but Ken waved him away with an imploring look .
Hmm ... so maybe the kid was still a little woozy . It was probably because of the heat and the dense air inside the club .
The drive to the Schuldich's duplex was filled with silence . Yohji knew he had to give the boy to think things over , to organize his thoughts . The boy was obviously in as much pain as his friend , and he wasn't looking so good right now .
He glanced at his passenger from the corner of his eye and noticed how frail and wan the boy looked . Maybe the fight had taken a worse toll than it should have .
He hated to force a person to do this kind of thing while he wasn't feeling A-ok but Schuldich needed clearance as soon as possible , there was no telling what the redhead was capable of doing when he was this miserable .
He parked the car and had gone to the passenger side to open the door . The brunette had made no move to go out .
Having second thoughts ?
" Ken ." He said , his eyebrows gently raised in question .
Ken stood up from the car weaving slowly , as if dizzy , his clouded eyes raised to the top floor of the duplex .
*Maybe he was dreading the meeting*
The ride up took a few minutes , Ken's reflection in the mirrored walls of the elevator showed his anxiety and worry .
Should he ? Could he ?
He did love Schuldich – that much was true . But Schuldich had cheated on him ; on the day that he had declared his feelings .
Did he even deserve to be forgiven after all he had done ?
" If you loved him even just a little ... you would give him another chance ."
The walls of the elevator spun , Ken credited it to gnawing nervousness that turned his stomach . Could he possibly talk to Schuldich and listen to him make excuses ?
Ping !
The elevator doors separated , the double doors of the flat looming large in front of them .
Yohji's glance at the brunette at his side as he rapped smartly on the door told him that the boy was getting ready to bolt . He rested his hand reassuringly on the boy's shoulder and gave him a kind smile that only partially succeeded in calming Ken's nerves .
His hands had grown sweaty during the ride to the penthouse and he wiped it against the side of his denim pants .
He didn't know if he was ready to see Schuldich yet . But he had already made the decision and he should stick to it despite all the qualms he was feeling at the moment .
From behind the door , they heard the muffled sound of padding feet against the thick carpet , inconsistent and erratic , and suddenly the door was flung open .
Schuldich stood there , his clothes rumpled , his long hair a tangle of knots , his face pale and haggard with a half-consumed bottle of beer in his hand . Ken almost didn't recognize him .
- this isn't Schuldich –
He looked so different from his suave , sophisticated self ...
Schuldich stared at Ken , dumb-founded , his jaw almost on the floor , his hand gripping the bottle even more tightly . His knuckles whitened at the effort .
" Ken ." He murmured . His eyes softened in pain .
Yohji had then taken the opportunity to step back into the empty elevator with a sad smile on his face .
They had to take care of their problems now . There was nothing more he could do to help .
† † †
R_M : I'm so sorry that I kept you hanging there ! I had no choice ; this is week is the first test of the year and I had to make good so I have a fighting chance of graduating ! O__O;;;
Chahiya : Hiya there ! ^__~ I'm so glad you do ! Welcome to the family ! ^__^ I'll try to do that !
Jenken : Will do ! The moment I find him I'm gonna get his DNA sample and hide it for future generations of fangirls to come ! Then I'm gonna clone him to my heart's content and have a gorgeous guy like him fawning over me ... *is imagining ...* Anoou ... *swoons*
Whisper_Reilman : You do ?! Wow that's a relief ! Be glad this chappie even reached three pages ! I'm already tearing my hair off for time to retype this thing up . Oh , and remember the time I said another SchuKen is on the way ? Well my loyal e-mail buddy (I'd rather not say her name) has come up with a jolly good idea and I've decided to make it . Of course it's AU (from the general enthusiasm on my last non-AU , I think I'd better stick to this genre) Anyway , I'm really looking forward to posting it (yup , I'm REALLY excited !!!)
Ketty : Dundundundunnnnnn ... I think you're in for another 'drama' chapter . I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing , but just decide when I post the chapter up on Saturday (or Sunday) ^__~
Brizey : Now you know what Yohji's up to . He's a great friend ne ? ^__~
Ran Mouri : *Is a little bit weirded out but is happy* Uncertain smile == O__O;;
Dan : Sorry bout that . Thanks for the well-wishing ! I need it ! *sniffs away for the Kenken druggie* .
Misura : Heyyyyy ! Welcome back ! So how was England ? (I'm dying to go there , I heard that it was great there from my dad . That was where he studied) They are they ? Well let's just see about that ! (is not threatening or anything) ^__~
Mariki : WBies too ! ^__^ Arigatou ! Hope to see you many more times !
Anna Hibiki : Well , here you have it ! Drumroll please !
WARNING : The following chapter may contain fluff and wuff that's dangerous to your health . If symptoms persist , STOP READING ! *laughs* I'm just kidding !