O___________O Wow… Thank you to Zeto… For giving me 12 reviews in a row… Though I'm quite shocked, I'm also very flattered. Thanks. To Stormy who called me an evil … bastard? O.o I've been called evil, bitch, witch, cruel, sadistic, but never bastard… I must say I was very surprised. Oh well… I suppose I'm flattered anyway… ^^ To Aphrael, A Spell, Kasra, Shaynie, and Mookie, I really love your reviews, you all! Everyone else thank you too…

I'm trying to hurry finishing this, especially because I wanna make more fics other than this one. My target for now is 20 chapters, but it might be more because I haven't outlined what's gonna happen yet.

Chapter 13 – Withdrawal and Closure

"Oh gods!!" Omi threw his head back, moaning. His body arched up into Ken's, his hands clutching Ken's back.

Ken didn't even stop, bringing his head down to suckle softly at Omi's shoulder. He moved a little faster, eliciting half-strangled cries from his lover.

"M-more…" he breathed. "F-faster… H-harder…"

Ken chuckled as he complied. Omi only cried out even more, moaning.

And then Ken felt the smaller boy's body spasm underneath him.

"K-ken-kuunnnnnn!!!!"

Ken jolted awake, covered in sweat.

Oh god… Not another one!

He sat up, running his fingers through his hair. "Gods… What am I going to do? I hope Omi gets to cure us soon…"

Omi…

Ken shook his head quickly. Nope! Not gonna do THAT again… Now… for the matters at hand…

He looked down, sure to find himself in the same condition as he had been the other times.

He found out that this time was actually worse.

Ken groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I swear… When I find that bastard Schuldich, I am going to strangle him……slowly…"

He got up and out of the bed, pausing to retrieve a new set of boxers and pajama pants. He walked to the bathroom to clean himself up, grateful that this time, he didn't bump into Yohji.

-----*-----

Aya couldn't keep silent this long. He knew that Yohji wouldn't bring it up, and he doubted Omi even noticed in his condition. Obviously, Ken couldn't bring it up himself. So, by default, he realized that he needed to bring it up before something went bad.

"Has anyone else noticed what's wrong with Ken?"

Though Omi looked terribly exhausted like he did the previous two days, he still managed to look up with an immediate look of concern. "Eh? Ken-kun?"

Yohji shrugged. Ah, he had noticed. "He's been looking like a cocaine addict on withdrawal."

Omi's eyes widened, "Ehhh??"

Yohji frowned and ruffled Omi's hair, "I meant that figuratively, Omittchi."

"Oh… Of course! I knew tha-…"

"OW!!!"

The three of them jumped at the sudden yell. They all turned to the kitchen entry way to find Ken holding his head and …… kicking the wall??

"Stupid… damned… good for nothing… piece of rubble…"

Omi started to stand, "Ken-kun?"

Ken stopped and looked up, "Eh? What?"

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"……… I don't know… Felt like a good idea at the time…" he continued on into the kitchen. He collapsed himself into a chair and helped himself to some breakfast.

Omi watched him with concern in his eye, "Ken-kun, are you o-?"

"I'm fine," Ken snapped back before Omi could even finish the question.

Three pairs of eyes widened. If there was one person among them that Ken did not snap at, potion or not, it was Omi.

Ken suddenly covered his mouth, eyes also wide. "A-ah… S-sorry Omi… I…" he looked away a bit and repeated. "Yeah. I'm fine." He grabbed the pitcher of coffee that someone had prepared that morning and began to pour himself a cup. "You don't need to worry about me."

"But, Ken-kun…"

"Ah SHIT!!"

In an instant, Ken was standing again. Steaming hot coffee was spilling over the table and some had ended up on Ken's jeans. Aya and Omi had both stood too, avoiding the hot liquid that was spreading towards them.

"Aaagghh hot hot hot hot……" Ken hissed, putting down the pitcher rather roughly and rubbing at his jeans, not even paying attention to the coffee that was dripping to the floor.

Omi was the one on his feet, bringing forth kitchen towels and wiping at the spreading brown liquid.

"Ken, can you be more of imbecile?" Yohji grumbled, watching Omi fend for himself.

"Shut the hell up, Kudou!" Ken snapped again. He looked down at his ruined pants and groaned, "FUCK! Now I gotta go change again."

With that he started heading back out the kitchen.

"Ahh!" Omi suddenly called, "Ken-kun!! Watch-…"

"OW!"

"-out…"

After Ken cried out a few more profanities at the wall and kicked it a couple more times, he went back up the stairs, muttering under his breath.

Omi finished with the coffee stains and went to the sink to take care of the small towelette there.

"Ken-kun's very moody today…" he whispered softly.

"Withdrawal…" Yohji rolled his eyes.

Omi turned a bit to look out the door, sadly, ………Ken-kun… What's wrong?

-----*-----

Ken lay awake in his bed, not trusting himself to go to sleep.

He was not ready to have another wet dream about Omi.

He knew he should be getting some rest, but he couldn't bring himself to close his eyes. He didn't want to do that to Omi, even if it was just in his dreams.

Of course, his heart begged to differ……

Not to mention his hormones……

He shook his head. No, he told himself over and over. You can always NOT blame yourself. You know the truth. He really did wish that the potion would wear off soon, so that he could go back to not dreaming about Omi.

Though, he knew his reason was more so that Omi would stop hating him.

Finally, he got up. It was useless just lying there. Maybe if he went down and watched TV, he could fall asleep without having those dreams.

He dressed himself a little better, finding a shirt and a pair of pajama pants. He didn't want anyone to find him downstairs in only his boxers (Heaven forbid if it was Omi himself!) As soon as he had deemed himself ready, he exited the room. (Narrowly avoiding the wall again)

He walked down the empty hallway, once again not bumping into their resident playboy. He briefly wondered if Yohji was having better sleep than he was.

Ken's plans were interrupted quite quickly. As he passed by Omi's room, he heard a soft whimper. The door was slightly open. He doubled back, wondering if anything was wrong. His heart immediately began to ache, seeing Omi curled up, half-tangled in his blanket.

Ken was frozen to the spot for a moment. He could only watch as the younger boy tossed a little, tangling himself in his blanket even more.

His head and his heart went for a wrestling match. His head was telling him to just keep going, that if he went in there, Omi would probably just push him away again. Or maybe something in him would take over and he'd end up possibly molesting Omi. Ken winced at the thought.

He was about to continue on when there was another soft whimper.

A whimper that sounded like……

……his name??

He stopped again, looking back into the room.

In the end, it really was his heart that won. He supposed that it was the potion, or maybe their friendship really did run very deep.

He stepped into the room, walking slowly toward the bed. Omi stirred a bit, making a soft whine.

Ken sat on the side of the bed, running a hand through Omi's hair. He murmured some words that seemed comforting. He smiled as he rubbed his back a little, watching as the restless jerks faded away.

Ken sighed. He looked away, continuing his ministrations. His mind jumbled over all the thoughts that had been coming to him that whole day and all the days before.

He stopped his stroking when he felt that Omi had stopped moving. Before he left, he wanted to take one last look at him, to make sure he was sleeping peacefully now.

That's when he realized in horror that Omi had awakened and looking up at him.

"A-ah! Omi! I-I'm sorry… I-I came in because it… I-it looked like you weren't sleeping very well…" he looked away a bit. "I-I'd understand if you don't want me in here. I can leave…"

At that, he immediately stood and began to walk out the room.

Just as he had risen to his feet, a hand clasped around his wrist.

He paused, turning slightly to see Omi still watching him.

"K-ken-kun… I-it's okay… I-it's true I haven't been sleeping very well… Well, I suppose you knew that… C-could you just… please stay with me?"

Ken was more than a little surprised at the request. "But… Don't you… I thought you wouldn't like me to be here."

Omi tilted his head a little. Ken instantly thought that the look Omi was giving him was adorable.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"W-well… I was thinking… I-I… Don't you hate me or something?"

Omi's eyes widened, "Why would I hate you?"

"B-but… I-I…" Ken stuttered. "I thought… I mean… W-well… Why wouldn't you hate me?! Here I come along, and claim being in love with you! Not to mention I almost kissed you that one time… And all the while it wasn't true! You should hate me!"

Omi gaped, "Ken-kun… I-is that what you've been brooding about?"

Ken looked at him, a little shocked. Aw man… he noticed… He slowly nodded. "H-hai. I can go now because you hate me. I really don't want you to so I'll…"

Omi strengthened his hold before Ken could try to leave again. "No! It's okay, Ken-kun. I…" he shook his head. "I… I couldn't possibly hate you!" He cried out as if it were unthinkable.

"B-but…"

"Ken-kun…" Omi rubbed his wrist. "It's okay. I understand… Sort of…" he watched Ken, holding his gaze. "We've known each other for so long… I.. I know that you wouldn't do something like that unless… unless you meant it… or if you weren't of the right mind… or something… And also…"

Omi paused and looked down for a while.

"I… I could never hate you, Ken-kun…"

The way Omi said it warmed him deep inside. Ken found himself smiling.

Omi smiled a little too, "Now stop brooding about it and stay with me. I really don't think I'd be able to sleep otherwise."

"But…" Ken began until he was cut off.

"Please, Ken-kun? Just this one time!"

Ken watched his eyes, and knew that he was sincere. Despite everything, it still warmed his heart. He smiled a little, testing the waters.

"Are you sure? You know… I might do weird things to you while you're sleeping…"

Omi returned the smile, "If you do and I feel it… I'll kick you where it hurts……. Hard…"

"I'll hold you to that."

"It's a promise."

Ken laughed, "Fair enough …"

With that agreement, Omi moved a little to the side and Ken joined him under the blanket. When he was settled in, Omi moved back in, snuggling up against him. Ken blinked a little.

"Omi? Are you absolutely sure?" he asked again.

Omi only moved even closer, burying his face into Ken's chest. "Hai…" he murmured against Ken's T-shirt. "I… I guess I just need someone right now… I'm glad it's you…"

Ken smiled, wrapping his arms around Omi's frame, rubbing his back over his pajama shirt. It took all his energy to not rub lower and cup that very tantalizing area between Omi's back and legs.

Then again, he was motivated by Omi's threat at the same time.

Right when he was about to drift off to sleep, savoring the feel of Omi in his arms, he heard it.

It was barely a whisper, but he still heard it.

"Even if you'll never actually feel the same way… I will always love what we have together…"

Ken looked down at Omi, but his eyes were closed.

…… What was that all about? Is he… Could he actually…?

No way… he shook his head. He couldn't…

………… Could he?

-----*-----

Wai! That was waffy… ^__^

omiclones@hotmail.com