Whee… Halloween chapter! ^-^ It hasn't been proofread too well though, 'cause I really wanted to get it out today… Just got home from trick-or-treating…
Thanks to all of you who reviewed! ^^ (Sky Rat – No, you're not being a "git." *sweatdrops* I really don't know a single thing about flowers and had to look up a site to find them and their meanings… ^^;;)
Happy Halloween, everyone!
~*~
I smiled, putting a carved pumpkin up on to the shelf. It was almost Halloween, and Omi, Youji, and I were decorating the Koneko.
Aya was holed up in his room yet again.
Damn that guy for being to antisocial.
Anyway, we had put an almost ridiculous amount of… hay… all through out the Koneko. Youji said it was a good idea (saying something vaguely about farms and pumpkin patches), but I thought we just looked like some old barn.
It literally stunk like cow.
Well, that might have to do with the fact that we couldn't find any place that sold hay, so we had to sneak into old farmer Bob's (I'm not kidding; that was the guys real name) cow farm to get some, but that's beside the point.
We're assassins; do you expect us to be above common thieves?
I paused to admire my handiwork. I don't claim to be an artist, but I think my pumpkin actually turned out pretty well.
"What the hell is that, Ken?" a voice asks from behind me. Youji never has been one for tact.
I turn, giving him a slightly wounded expression. "It's a pumpkin."
Youji rolls his eyes. "I can see that. I mean, what the hell did you do to the poor thing?"
"It's dead, Youji," I say sarcastically, "I don't think it felt any pain when I cut it up."
Youji snorted, then turned and walked back over to where he and Omi had been previously arranging waxed corn around a scarecrow.
"What?!" I yell after him, pouting slightly. I glance back up at the pumpkin. I still say it looks nice.
I shrug and then hop back down from the ladder. Youji isn't a brilliant artist himself; he still draws little stick people that are ridiculously out for proportion.
"Ken-kun!" Omi calls, "Can you hand me the squash from over there?"
I blink and turn to look at the huge pile of squash in the corner. "Uh…" Wordlessly, I walk over and pick up a single squash.
"Here." I hand it to Omi, a rather deadpan expression on my face. "Would you like me to get you the other hundred also?"
Omi smiles cheerfully. "They were having a sale at the store. It seems they weren't getting sold very well, so the people at the store said I would get a special deal if I bought them all (you know how Aya-kun is with the budget). Besides, Youji-kun likes squash, so I think I could just cook him the extra."
"Chibi, you're going to have over eighty left over," Youji said, his face turning slightly green.
I snicker at my mental image of Omi dropping a towering plate of squash in front of a mortified Youji.
"Can you get me another one, Ken-kun?" Omi asks, pointedly ignoring the gagging noises Youji was making. "It looks odd with only one."
"Sure." I walk back over to the gigantic stack and pluck one out from the bottom.
I gulp, staring down at the squash in my hands as a rumbling sound reaches my ears. You know how they always say you really shouldn't pull the bottom orange out of a pyramid of them?
Beware the flood of the squash.
"What the fu--" Youji manages to get out – before a squash hits him right in the face.
Omi yelps and then dives behind the scarecrow for shelter. It doesn't help much, as Omi now finds himself buried under a pile of squash and one scarecrow.
I sacrificially attempted to save my precious teammates from the brunt of the attack.
Okay, fine, I screamed and then dove behind the counter.
And realized the counter really would not help as a second later I had a squash humiliatingly stuck firmly on my head and covering my face.
I tug on the squash and to my chagrin find it stuck firmly on my head. I sigh, knowing there will be no end to the teasing once I have to ask Youji for his help.
"Uh, guys," I said hesitantly, probing above my head for the counter to pull myself up.
"Ken…" I hear Youji's voice say threateningly.
I smile sheepishly, although I know they can't see my face.
"Ken-kun, what did you do?!" Omi demands. He pauses. "And what is that thing doing on your head?!"
"Trust me," I said dryly, my voice muffled, "It's definitely not intentional."
I hear Youji snickering. Even Omi is trying to muffle his laughter.
"Ne, Chibi, do you have a camera?"
"Sorry, I don't. Do you think Aya would have one?"
I scowl. They're so mean. "You know, you could help me here."
"Oh no." I can practically hear the smirk in Youji's voice. "This is your punishment. I'm going to enjoy this while it lasts…." Youji's voice trails off.
I scowl even more and attempt to walk in the general direction of their voices.
And being me, I manage to trip on another squash along the way. And I would've cracked the squash – and my head – open on the tiled floor if not for the soft sweater-like thing I felt catch me.
Wait, sweater-like.
Youji never wears sweaters. And Omi hardly ever does – besides, he's shorter than me so it can't be him.
So it must be someone else.
Shit.
"What is going on?" Aya's voice said from above me, its tone deadly soft.
I feel my face overheat at the fact that he still hasn't made any move to release me yet. It probably slipped his mind from the definite anger he felt.
Instantly, the three of begin babbling in unison.
"We wanted to decorate for Halloween--"
"--And Ken made this awful pumpkin--"
"--What?! It was not--"
"--And there was this deal at the store--"
"--For a hundred of those damned things--"
"--That Omi was going to make Youji eat--"
"--Which I will not do--"
"--You said you liked them--"
"--Yeah, I like it in small sparse amounts--"
"--This squash is suffocating me--"
"--Well it was your brilliancy that caused all this--"
"--I can't breathe--"
"--Too bad--"
"--Shit, this is humiliating. An assassin dying from being suffocated by a squash--"
"Shut up."
We simultaneously gulp and close our mouths, waiting for our leader to pass judgment.
"What were you thinking?" Aya said dangerously. At the whimpering sounds coming from Omi, I actually feel thankful for the squash on my head preventing me from seeing Aya's face.
"We were decorating for Halloween," Omi said defensively. "And things just… got a little weird."
I seriously think I'm suffocating.
"And what possessed you to litter the floor with, of all things, squash?!" Oh dear, Aya's very angry know if he's talking this much.
"It wasn't intentional!" Youji said irritably. "Ken just had the bright idea to topple a pile of squash."
Yeah, it wasn't intentional… just like this squash on my head isn't intentional. C'mon guys, a little help here?
Despite the current incapacity of my vision, I could still feel Aya's glare on me. "I'll talk once I get this thing of my head," I mumble. I can practically feel my face turning blue.
I yelp as I feel my neck stretch. Finally, someone was helping me. 'Course, they weren't being as gentle as they could be, but hey, I'm desperate.
Unfortunately, the squash is on rather tight.
"Don't be so rough!" I snap, flailing my arms around blindly. I hear a grunt and feel a rush of triumph as I manage to catch the offender in the stomach.
Yeah, I know I should be grateful…
…but this hurts like hell.
Finally, the damned thing is pulled off my head. I rub at my eyes, adjusting to brightness of the Koneko. As my vision clears, I feel my stomach clench.
Aya stands in front of me, a misshapen (and oddly familiar looking) squash held in his hands. His eyebrow is twitching ever so slightly.
I smile sheepishly, subconsciously beginning to back away. Oh man, I hit Aya…
I'm gonna die.
"Hidaka," Aya says flatly.
I sweatdrop. "I didn't mean to do it, really." Do you think puppy eyes will work on him? Wait, Omi's don't… and they're they ultimate puppy eyes.
Aya rubs his forehead.
I twist the bottom of my squash-splattered shirt and chew my lip.
Please don't let me die.
Please don't let me –
I blink.
A hand is resting on my head. I lift my head slightly, my eyes tracing the arm up to his owner.
I squeak, my face slowly overheating to a bright tomato red.
Aya is looking at me was a perfectly unreadable expression on his face. "Baka," he said flatly.
I flush even more. Omi and Youji are snickering behind Aya's back.
My mouth opens and closes like a goldfish.
"Clean this up," Aya said, his hand still not moving from my head. He pauses. "And then eat it. All three of you."
I nod dumbly.
Omi and Youji fall over behind us.
I'm still nodding.
Aya then ruffles my hair slightly and walks away.
My mouth is still moving like a goldfish.
Five minutes later, his words finally sinking in.
"What the fuck?!"
~*~
I poked at the plate in front of me.
"This is a cruel and unique punishment," Youji moans. Omi nods slightly next to him, his face already slightly green.
I sigh. "You know, I think Halloween's my least favorite holiday now."
Youji suddenly perks up. "Oh no, I think you're going to love it after this."
Oh, shit. I suddenly find my mashed squash extremely interesting.
"Youji-kun," Omi said cautiously, "What are you talking about?"
Youji laughs.
I resist the urge to throw my plate in his face.
"Youji-kun…" Omi said warningly.
"We're going shopping tomorrow," Youji said brightly, putting a spoonful of squash into his mouth. No… His plan of doom must be terrible if it can make him eat this… this… crap with a smile on his face. "For Halloween costumes."
"No." I flatly refuse, those there's that inkling in the back of my mind which tells me that no matter what I say, I'll get foxed into this.
"You're getting crabby, KenKen," Youji said matter-of-factly, "It's time to loosen up with some innocent childish fun."
I stuff a spoonful into my mouth to avert having to respond. Somehow, I don't believe anything Youji comes up with is childish… and definitely not innocent.
"Oh!" Omi brightens also. "I didn't know we were going to dress up this year. I thought Aya forbade that when you dressed us all up as a sort of harem."
Youji coughs.
Squash nearly flies out of my mouth at the reminder of that disaster.
"Technicalities…" Youji waves his hand flippantly. "Trust me, Aya will love this."
My feeling of dread continues to grow.
Youji begins to cackle while shoveling squash in his mouth.
Omi's smiling cheerfully.
I hit my head on the edge of the table.
"Okay, done with his plate!" Youji puts his spoon down.
Omi wordlessly takes the empty plate and walks over to the huge cauldron we're using for our slop.
It's almost still filled to the brim.
~*~
One day later, after stuffing ourselves with the crap and then successively throwing it up, the three of us are standing inside the crowded mall.
I'm still fiddling in my head with the idea of whether to bolt or not.
"Okay, this way!" Youji's in a remarkably good mood. It's scary.
Omi prances behind him, holding in his hand Weiss' credit card. This is a bad idea. The thought of Persia seeing the bill we're going to rack up…
"C'mon, Ken-kun." Omi turns his irritatingly bright smile onto me. "Don't look so scared."
Oh, I have every right to be scared.
Silently, I trudge behind them. If I don't go along with this, I just know they're going to think up something worse.
Suddenly I stop.
"Youji…" I said hesitantly, "Isn't the costume store in the other direction."
"I know," Youji answers, smiling impishly.
"Where are we going?" I ask cautiously.
"You'll see."
I resist a whimper.
Two minutes later we're in front of a store. It's Youji's favorite store – where he buys most of his clothes.
And you all know what Youji wears, don't you?
Omi flushes and buries his head in his hands.
Youji smiles a very hentai smile.
I turn to bolt.
I yelp, getting caught by the back of my shirt. "Lemme go!" I flail to get away. "There is no way I will wear anything in there. I have my dignity!" No response as I feel myself dragged in. "I have my rights!"
"C'mon, Omi," Youji said, halfway through the door.
Omi is slowly inching from the entrance. "I think I'm underage."
"No you're not!" I grab his arm, dragging him with me to my doom. "I need moral support!"
'Course, I don't know what moral support he'll be with Youji and him obviously being on the same side. But hey, at least he has some semblance of logic… I hope.
Omi keeps his eyes firmly squeezed shut as he and I are dragged by a gleeful Youji. He opens his eyes a crack and promptly closes his eyes again, his face overheating, as he spots a toy used for *cough* interesting activities.
"I feel my innocence being stripped," Omi moans.
Innocence? We're assassins and you're talking about innocence?
I squeak, spotting a pair of handcuffs. What those are for I don't even want to know…
I feel very innocent.
And I would love to keep it that way if not for certain people.
Youji finally stops, and begins shifting through the racks. He frowns slightly, concentrating.
I tug on his sleeve, glancing nervously around. I would die if one of the mothers of my soccer kids saw me in a place like this. "Youji, why are we looking for a costume in here…?"
A smirk creeps on Youji's face. He begins to cackle again.
"Okay, fine, at least tell me what you're going to dress me up as," I said exasperatedly.
"A hooker."
I sputter and a flaming blush creeps to my cheeks.
Omi flushes and looks ready to sink in the floor.
"No no no!" I back away, waving my hands frantically in front of me. "I will not be a… a…" I trail off as my face reddens even further.
Omi begins coughing, taking the opportunity to quickly hightail out of the store. I move to follow but am once again stopped – this time by a yank to my poor hair.
"Youji!" I yell, struggling to get away. This was enough. Oh no, I would not be an easily blown stick anymore… Youji won't be able to convince me to do this.
"Don't you want to be with Aya?" The look on Youji's face is scary.
I gulp.
No no no no no…
"If you can't the guy by ordinary means, then you have to do things you wouldn't normally do and things that I would normally do. Trust me; the best way to get someone is through seduction."
I choke. "Youji, do I look like the type that could seduce anyone?"
Youji glanced me up and down. "Yes."
I bolt.
And am once again snatched back.
"No no no no no!" I hope frantically for some kind soul out there to take mercy on me. Either that or I yell enough to get security to come and kick us both out.
Youji leans his face very close to mines. "Ken…"
"Hai." I gulp.
"You will do this or I will kiss you right now."
I choke again. "Eep…"
Youji smirks. "Not that that's necessarily a bad thing."
"Very bad thing…" I mutter.
Youji looks affronted. "I'm offended."
I glare.
Isn't blackmail illegal?
Okay, I will not dress up in something like… that. But then again, getting kissed by Youji is nowhere near the top of things I want in life.
"I'm waiting, Ken," Youji said, leaning even closer.
I shove him away. "Give me the stupid costume." I pause. "On one condition."
"Name it," You said instantly.
I smirk. "Since you choose my costume, I choose yours and Omi's."
"Deal."
~*~
One hour and a lot of swearing later, Youji and I meet Omi in front of the store.
He's happily eating a strawberry ice-cream crepe.
"Hi!" He smiles uber-genkily at us. "Did you get a costume, Ken-kun?"
I glare.
Youji laughs.
Omi smiles.
I resist the urge to slice them into nice itty-bitty cubes with my bugnuks. That is, if I had them with me.
Though the knowledge of my side of the deal does provide quite a bit of comfort…
~*~
"Ken, get out of there!"
"It can't be that bad!"
…
…
Not bad my ass.
I peer out from my edge of my door, spotting Omi and Youji standing in front. My wounded pride is given a major boost at the sight I see.
You see, since they were doing a plan from the bowels of Hell on me, I made sure they would get back as much as they received.
We had headed to the costume store on the other side of the mall and there I selected what the two would have to wear. Of course, in the process I had them try on a whole bunch of ridiculous costumes for a much needed laugh.
Never shall I forget Youji the tooth fairy or Omi the Barney.
But in the end, I had decided to select something that wasn't too bad, since I had already gotten my revenge in seeing them all dressed up.
Omi was a Pikachu.
Youji was pink Power Ranger.
I snickered slightly to myself.
"Shut up, Ken," Youji snapped. He crossed his pink-clad arms over his chest.
"It can't be any worse than this." Omi scowls, waving his now chubby arms. "I can barely even move in this thing."
I snicker again.
"Get the hell out of there," Youji said flatly, "Or we're both changing back."
I hesitate, poking my head further out to make sure there's no one else in the hallway. After a couple seconds, I push open the door and step out, hugging my arms around myself for my smallest shred of dignity.
Youji catcalls.
Omi blinks and flushes.
I try to make myself as small as possible.
"Lookin' good, KenKen," Youji hoots.
I look away.
"Now!" Omi said, brightly, looking anywhere but me, "Let's find Aya!"
"No!" I move to scamper back into my room. "I promised to wear this – not to wear this and show it to Aya!"
Youji grabs me by to back of the choker/collar I'm wearing and drags me struggling down the hall. Omi waddles along side us.
"I want a lawyer!" I yell, though I really don't know how the hell that pertains to my situation.
They ignore me.
I whimper as we get nearer and nearer to the front of the Koneko where we had Aya on candy duty. Heh, Youji said that since it was Halloween, we should have the scariest of us all in front.
Aya then glared and the look he gave us further proved Youji's point. Besides, it was either he pass out candy or goes trick-or-treating with the three of us.
It's fairly obvious which he would choose.
"Mercy mercy mercy mercy!" I yell.
"Shut up, Ken," Youji snapped. "You call even more attention that way."
I shut my mouth but do nothing to cease my struggles. No way am I going into this willingly.
"Oi, Aya!" Youji hollers. Geeze, wouldn't that catch even more attention than my yelling? So smart Youji is.
Aya glances in our direction – as does all the fangirls gathered around him. I stifle the feeling of envy that begins to rise in me.
Time seems to freeze.
And then…
Suddenly Youji and Omi feel the same urge as me to run.
You thought a flood of squash was scary? Well, a flood of fangirls is unlimited times worse.
"Uwa~! Omi-chan is so cute!"
"Wow, I never though Youji-sama looked so good in pink!"
"Look at Ken-kun! Doesn't he look so hot?!"
Girls are pinching Omi's cheeks and tugging on his long pointy ears.
Youji is beginning to settle back into his element, flirting with the girls surrounding him.
I am beginning to sprint, using my years of soccer training to my benefit. 'Course I'm a goalie and not exactly meant for running, so I was soon overcome…
"Ken-kun's mine!"
"No way! He's mine!"
"My gosh, I never knew he could look so good!"
I flush, beginning to back away. "Uh…"
"Get your candy and leave!" a deep voice booms throughout the shop.
"But Aya-sama…" Similar protests soon arise – even one by Youji.
Aya glares.
They leave.
I sigh in relief. And then I remember what I'm wearing and turn to hightail it out of here.
"Hey, Aya," Youji says casually, "What do you think of KenKen's costume?"
I freeze is mid-step.
"Hn."
Was that a 'yes' hn or and 'no' hn? Wait, what am I thinking?! I'm starting to act like one of those… those… fangirls.
I sense someone coming closer.
Peering over my shoulder, I spot of all people Aya coming towards me. I flush and suddenly feel my heart start hammering.
"Um… this is… ah… um…" I stammer, twisting my hands nervously on the short hem of my black almost sheer tank top. You know, if I think about it, if the two of us were (despite what I perceived as a slim chance) to get together, I wonder if it'll ever work out as I always seem to act… strange… when around him.
I feel my blush intensifying even further as I feel his eyes scan over me, stopping on my face. "You look good," he said flatly and quietly.
I can die happy.
Five minutes later I'm still staring dumbly at the door he left in.
~*~
Slightly OOC Aya, but hey, this is fanfiction… And as for Ken's outfit, well, I'll leave most of it up to your imagination. ^^