Sorry... update delays are getting longer and longer ;_; I'm running low on creative genius, so I'm thinking of starting a Brad/Schuldig focused fic to otherwise occupy my mind -- sometimes a distraction helps. Lemon's at mediaminer; link's at the bottom. No KxO; so don't go there if that's what you're expecting. ~_~;
Karma Police: Chapter 7: Put Your Hand on My Skin
::Youji's POV::
I watch the blood slowly filter out of my vein and into the small tube Birman is holding -- like I told Ran, I am going to let Omi test me for traces of the Lethe drug before they go on the mission tonight; and if I'm positive, I'll take the antidote and during the evening Ran will watch over me as, hopefully, my memory restores itself.
Birman insisted that she be the one to draw my blood; and she was a little harsher with the needle than Ran would have been after I made some wry comment about how sweet it was of her to take care of me. Upon reflection, that probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. She slaps a band-aid on and hands the tube to Manx; who mutters something that sounds like "Thirty minutes," before they both leave. Probably taking it back to a local lab.
::Ran's POV::
Someday, modern medicine will have advanced to the point where if there's something wrong with you, you'll know in two seconds. I think I might go crazy waiting for thirty minutes to find out if Youji was actually brainwashed. Ken and Omi are preparing for the stakeout, and I guess Youji must have sensed my impatience, because he moves to stand behind my chair, slender fingers beginning an intense massage on the tense muscles of my shoulders.
"What's the matter, Ayan? I always thought you were the calm, patient one?" He asks from behind me, voice smug, before leaning over to kiss the back of my neck. I reach for his hands and slowly pull him around to the front of the chair and onto my lap.
"I've never been patient with you, Yotan." I growl, and our lips meet in another searing kiss. Various types of petting ensue before a cough sounds from the door. Manx? Birman? I check my watch. 28 minutes and thirty seconds. They're early, and I tell them so. Manx rolls her eyes, tossing her red hair over her shoulder as she hands the test results to Youji.
"Test positive."
::Youji's POV::
"Test positive."
Well, fuck; there's quite a difference between planning on taking an experimental drug and actually being faced with the fact that you're going to take it. I glance up at Ran, whose gaze is somewhat comforting, in that it reminds me why I made this decision in the first place. I feel a confident grin sliding back into place as I hold my arm out for Manx and wink at her.
"Stick me, babe. I hope it's a good trip."
OW! Jesus, I should really stop pissing them off. Touchy women. Ran lets out an amused snort when Manx does exactly what I asked and really sticks it to me, the needle and its drug sinking into my arm, shooting through my vein like fire.
And suddenly, I feel very sleepy and more than a little goofy. I look up at Ran and run a hand on his cheek.
"Nn...kitten...have I ever told you you're beautiful?" I ask, and wonder why my words are slurring together. In fact, he's looking a little blurry. This feels a lot like being drunk, and I have the feeling that I know a lot about being drunk.
"Like a flower...you know, a rose...a dark red one...beautiful and.."
Well I guess he's had enough of that, scooping me up as he stands from the chair.
"Oooh...that eager, Ayan?"
I tease, and he takes me to my room and deposits me on the bed, before turning for the door.
"Eh.....Where are you going?" I ask, highly disappointed that he's not staying to screw my gorgeous self; but before I can finish the sentence I have literally blacked out and am lost to my memories.
::Omi's POV::
I step out of my room in time to see Aya coming down the hall.
"Youji tested positive. We administered the drug and he's passed out in his room." The redhead informs me; and I nod, heading to the living room to wait for Ken. When he doesn't come out right away I get up and head down the hall, knocking tenatively on his door. When I receive no answer I step inside cautiously, catching sight of Ken staring at himself in his mission gear in the mirror. He hears me come in and his eyes flicker over to my figure in the mirror's reflection; a sort of indirect eye contact that doesn't require him to turn around. His eyes are dry now but I can tell he's been crying.
"Ken...if you change your mind.." I begin, steeling myself to the fact that he's going to leave again; and I'll be alone. I was foolish to allow my hopes to return.
"No."
He says firmly, and this time turns around to face me, extending his arms to his sides.
"I shouldn't have left in the first place, Omi. Forgive me?"
He asks, and I go to him, as we share a friendly hug; like so many other friendly hugs. Never anything more than that, though; no matter how much I wished otherwise. I shoot him a small smile.
"Ne, Ken-kun, you know I'd never stay mad at you." I say and he grins.
"Feh, Omi, you've grown up on me. Drop the -kun and I swear I'll never call you Omittchi again."
"And chibi?" I ask, hopefully. "Promise."
"I swear." He vows seriously, and I grin back at him. "Deal, Ken."
We shake on it like old friends and head out for the stakeout.
::Ran's POV::
Manx and Birman have left for the night and I'm flopped out on our couch reading when Ken and Omi come out of the hallway, acting like old friends once again. I'm glad, although I'll never show it or tell them so. In fact, when they tell me they're leaving, I give them only my favorite word (or is it a syllable? The debate continues..) for a reply.
"Hn."
They share an amused glance over my return to one word/syllable answers and head out the door. Ken's motorcycle fires up and they head off into the distance to hunt the dark beasts of the world. Or so they'd like to think. I've never held that idealistic a view of my job, and neither did Youji. For me it was about money and revenge; money to keep Aya-chan alive, and revenge for my family. Youji's enough of a realist to know that there is no straight line between black-and-white. We waltz in the gray area, for that is the hand that has been dealt to us.
Speaking of Youji, I hope he's still not acting drunk. I decide to check on the lazy bum and head to his room, where, much to my surprise, the blond is sitting up in bed, eyes filled with tears. I immediately move to go to him, intending to take him into my arms and try to make everything better, but he stops me, a hand flat against my chest, and green eyes meet mine.
"We fought."
He says, and I take a seat on the edge of his bed, settling for taking one of his hands in mine. He's not talking about any little squabble. He's talking about the fight. I nod reluctantly.
"Yes, Youji. We did."
::Youji's POV::
"Yes, Youji. We did."
Of all my memories; I think that was the worst. I had already dealt with my memories of Asuka before my 'amnesia' so regaining them was not nearly as painful as one might suspect. The fight with Ran; the real fight, when we were trying our damndest to kill eachother, that was the worst. He sighs.
"I told you that you wanted to forget."
He murmurs, voice full of regret. "The truth is, Youji, that nobody can handle this job without going insane. We didn't fight because we hated eachother. We fought because we loved eachother so much it hurt. We lost sight of what was important."
"I know."
I say quietly.
"I'm sorry."
"Me too. I understand if you want me to leave." Says Ran, who slowly releases his hold on my hand, and begins to stand. He has the expression of a dying matyr; the expression of a man who will weep to himself once he's alone. Gods, he's going to cry.
"No."
I say firmly, and pull him down to me, my lips meeting his in a soft kiss, a silent apology for everything. For the fight; for all the times I came home late and upset him; for forgetting. Pulling away, I shoot him a sly smile.
"Are the others gone?"
"Do you always think about sex?" He retorts, and I grin.
"You're the one who brought it up." I murmur, and our lips meet again, but softly; this isn't about need or want -- it's different. I stare up at him as slender digits work to remove my pants; my own fingers going to work on his.
"I love you, Ran."
::Ran's POV::
The words take me by surprise as I stare down at the gorgeous man beneath me before giving him a small smile in return, stopping in what I'm doing to caress his cheek.
"I know, Youji."
I used to have trouble telling him how I felt; I just assumed that between the kisses and the sex and my concern, that he knew. And he did. But that was before I didn't get to hold him for months; when I always assumed I'd have a chance to tell him. Now I'm not stupid enough to take tomorrow for granted.
"I love you too."
He smiles softly; and then begins to chuckle a little. I stare down at him, and before I can ask, he explains.
"That's the first time you've ever told me."
I press my lips to his collarbone, murmuring my reply against warm flesh.
"No, Youji. I've always told you. Just not in words."
His reply is to raise my chin for another kiss. ::Youji's POV::
My fingers slip out of Ran's mouth; any traces of what we've just finished gone, and I curl against him with a sigh of happiness.
This is the life I have chosen. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
::Ken's POV::
Nothing. Absolutely nothing tonight; except Omi and I sitting in absolute, uncomfortable silence, on a rooftop overlooking the Kreiger factory where Lethe is stored. Since leaving the Koneko, neither of us has said a word, and I've been mulling on the ride that got us here -- my bike is parked in an alley a few blocks away.
It felt so good to have his arms around me for those few moments; strong and youthful arms, his chest against my back as we leaned forward and sped through traffic. Youji's the only other one who's ever ridden on my motorcycle; Aya always called it a death machine. But he never did any of that. It wasn't really necessary. I glance over at Omi out of the corner of my eye and I have to wonder if he returns the feelings I've kept quiet about for all these years, afraid to ruin our friendship. He catches me staring at him, though.
"Something bothering you, Ken?"
"N-no.." I say, entirely too quickly. Omi frowns and returns to gazing at the warehouse. No, nothing's wrong, Omi; I'm just thinking about how much I'd like to kiss you and do all sorts of things that shouldn't be allowed between someone like myself and someone as innocent as you.
Although I have to stop lying to myself. You're not innocent; you certainly have grown up in the months I've been away. You're not a child and not an angel, just a very, very attractive young man.
I told you Weiss was driving me crazy; and that's true. But its more truthful to say that I ran away from what really scared me the most; my feelings for you. I used to think it was like an older brother feeling. Because I'd always be there for you and protect you and beat the living shit out of anyone who made you sad. But older brothers don't have wet dreams about younger brothers with gorgeous blue eyes so that option's out the window. You never got it, did you; how close to crazy you'd make me if one of your oversized t-shirts slipped off a slender shoulder..
Gah. I'm on a friggin mission. I need to stay focused. You elbow me.
"There they are."
I nod. "Let's go."
This is my second chance; coming back to Weiss, even if it's for Ichiro's sake. I'm going to tell him.
A/N:Fanservice for the long wait can be found here:
More notes to my reviewers; of both fanfiction.net and mediaminer.org:
Inori Sakura: I'm more active on ff.net than mediaminer; the updates are MUCH, MUCH faster, when they do come; on ff.net. But thanks for your kind review; and my grammar sucks ;_; .. I write all of this spur-of-the-moment and don't really check it for errors. Glaube is a lazy bum. ^_^;
Kenzan: Haha; you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? *cackles* I don't like writing KxO as much; because Kudoh's my favorite. But for you, I shall struggle onward.
Chibi-chan v.2.0: Man(or woman =P), You've really stuck with this fic and had tons of supernice comments. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the continued encouragement; especially when I feel like I'm in a writing slum and you still think it's decent. ^_^; THANKS SO MUCH!
Honoo Moeru: You've stuck around, too, and your continued support rocks the house. GO SEE THE LAST SAMURAI. NOW. PRONTO. OR I WON'T WRITE STUFF. Yeah. x_X! lol.
fan of story: Alright, don't really know who you are, but I'm glad you like the style. It's a little tough, but I'm glad I stuck with first person -- otherwise you get too many "his and him"'s in there and the description goes a little off. For me, anyway. I might try something different on my next fic.
Dreamwriter613: Thanks so much. I'm not as familiar with Gluhen as I am with the rest of the series so it's been a bit of a struggle. I'm glad you like. ^_^ Makes me smile!
mystic shadow dragon: Don't worry, I will.
Vampire Louis: You would think I wouldn't be as bogged down with school, because I backed off on my classload this year. Getting ready for college is a little rough though. Too many auditions....baaa....music... x_X;
mangababe and babaca: Hope you guys are still with me T_T... let me know if I'm screwing up. lol.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT -- click the review button to see a picture of Youji nake---okay, not really, but click it anyway. ^_^
-glaube
