Bonjour!!! Glad you made it to this chapter. As stated in my first chapter I'm doing my best to make it fit the original story line but because I haven't seen much of the original story line I'm afraid that might not go so well. So, just to be on the safe side, this is labeled AU. There is a little OOCness, but I hope it's okay. I hope this chapter is a little clearer then the first two. But one way or another tell me what you think. I think I'm getting the hang of it. I hope you like! (Once again all begging for reviews will be reserved for the end of the chapter.)

Disclaimer: Alas, the world is cruel and Yami no Matsuei does not belong to me. I am a poor girl with nothing but my computer to keep me happy. So it's best that you don't sue, lest you take away the only happiness I have.

I would like to thank Dream-Eater-Is-Hungry for reviewing. It seems I really need to work on my sentencing. (I'm trying!!) Thank you again though. Also, I'd like to thank Kage Chikara for not only reviewing but also for writing the end of this chapter. I don't know where I'd be without you! Thank you(*heart*)

With all that said, please enjoy!

Frozen Chances

Chapter 3

Meeting at the Ko Kaku Rou

Walking into his apartment Muraki was immediately assaulted with a very different yet interesting aroma. Closing the door behind himself he set down his briefcase. Opening his cuffs and adjusting his tie he made his way to the kitchen. Yuki stood humming lightly at the cutting board. Nearby a strainer was waiting under the faucet in the sink. On the glassless window in front of him, which connected the kitchen to the living room, a pie was cooling.

"What are you making?" Muraki asked as he leaned against the doorway to the kitchen. In surprise Yuki jumped, causing his knife to make a small cut across his hand. Ignoring the cut he turned to glare suspiciously at Muraki. "When did you get here?" He asked then before giving him time to answer he added, "Don't be so quiet! At least say 'Honey I'm home' every now and then." A frown crossed his face when Muraki only smirked. Rolling his eyes and mumbling under his breath he returned to his chopping.

Muraki raised an eyebrow after scrutinizing Yuki's cut hand. "Odd." He thought as he noticed there were no abrasions to the skin. "Hey guess what!" Yuki beamed happily in a quick change of moods. "I bought you something!" He said smiling excitedly up at Muraki who looked back in mild surprise. "And it is?" he asked as Yuki didn't elaborate. You go take a shower, and I'll give it to you afterwards." Yuki answered. Muraki shrugged, not really caring one way or another. "Alright, but it's not because of your gift, only because I want a shower." He answered.

"Right and pigs actually want to fly." Yuki retorted. "I'm sure they do." Muraki shrugged and walked out of the kitchen. "You'd know!" Yuki called after him.

~ ~ ~

After his shower Muraki walked into his room, which was connected to his bathroom. He toweled off walking to his closet. On his bed was a large box shaped package with a note on top; he walked over and looked it over before picking up the note, which stated:

To Uncle Muraki

Who needs some more color

And to stop wearing all white

And more color

Did I mention more color?

Yeah, that's what you need!

Love Yuki (*heart*)

(Because everyone else does)

Muraki shook his head as he placed the note down. Next he slowly opened the package. It took him two seconds before he came to a conclusion….

"No." He said loud enough for a certain eavesdropping young fashion designer wannabe. The door swung open and a young auburn haired teen, clad in black jeans and a violet tank top, bounded in. He jumped up and landed on Muraki's bed with a bright smile. "It's a wig." Yuki announced as Muraki regarded him warily. "It's the tattoo I don't like." Muraki stated referring to the red heart with a sword going through it on Yuki's left shoulder. Yuki frowned then his smile returned. " Oh this? It's nothing, now there's this one that I have on my back, just below the¾ " Yuki stopped then decided to change subjects. "I have a jacket. Anyways I got you stuff, now you should wear it!" Muraki raised an eyebrow. "I want you to know that…if you think I'm going to where this

clown suit- !"

"Look under the clown suit, sorry that's for me." Yuki interrupted pulling the suit into a protective hug.

"I know what you're thinking, but you see what happened was I walked into the store and she, I mean the store clerk, gave me all these clothes. Now I said ' I'm here for my uncle' and she said, ' later, later.' Then ' I said but I'm not a clown,' and she said, 'I know' and the rest is history! I got a red nose too." He said smiling proudly. Muraki patted his shoulder lightly. "You worry me." He stated flatly before turning to his closet.

"But Muraki!" Yuki whined grabbing for his arm. Muraki 'accidentally' moved out of reach and Yuki was deposited on the floor. Unfazed, Yuki immediately attached to his leg. " Muraki pleeeeeeaaaaassssseeee wear my clothes! I got them just for you!!"

"No." Muraki said walking to his closet unhindered by the chibi presence on his leg. "But, what about the jeans? Just the jeans…and jacket."

"Forget it."

"But it would accent your glasses. You'd look like a professor, everyone loves professors!"

"No."

"What about the brown slacks instead? You'd look suave and diviner!"

"Get off my leg."

"Muraki!!" Yuki looked up with pinkish grey chibi eyes and tears beginning to form. He was pouting, silently begging for Muraki to give in. Muraki raised an eyebrow vaguely reminded of someone he knew. "I'll wear the jacket." He compromised. Yuki looked away with a deeply sorrowful expression.

"And the turtleneck?" He asked testing his ground. Muraki's eyes went flat as he watched Yuki look up again. Yuki smiled pathetically.

"One or the other." Muraki answered.

"The jeans then." Yuki decided. Muraki looked as though he were going to say 'no' before he answered, "Fine."

"Yay!" Yuki exclaimed, jumping up and dancing around before sitting on the bed. "Out." Muraki ordered not turning to look at him. "But-" Yuki didn't waste time finishing his sentence before he bolted out of the room. Muraki walked to his bed after he selected a shirt to finish his outfit. "Yeah! Take it off!" Yuki called from the hallway.

"If that door is not shut when I-" There was an audible hurried click before Muraki could finish his sentence. He could barely suppress his smirk.

*** (A few weeks later…)

Muraki felt nervous the closer they got to the brothel, despite Yuki's tugging and pulling, and annoying—albeit cute—antics. He had barely been able to believe it when the boy told him he knew someone who worked at KoKaRou—what were the odds? But he did, and since this was an opportunity to see Oriya again, he went along with it. He had told Yuki only that he had an old friend at KoKaRou as well.

Yuki, ironically, had found this hilarious. But the closer they got, the more worried Sensei became. How would his old friend react to his reappearance? What would Oriya say? Had Oriya missed him? He dropped off Yuki in the brothel's common room, after being assured that the boy knew where he was going and who he was looking for, and could take care of himself. Odd of him to be worried, perhaps, but this WAS a brothel, and Muraki wasn't sure that the customers would hesitate to take advantage of the attractive lad.

He threaded his way through the back halls until he reached Oriya's door. This was the moment of truth. He smoothed his jacket nervously, then knocked on the door. "Come in." That voice, the smooth, deep silk of it, sent shivers up Muraki's spine. He bit his lip, shoved his control into place, and entered. Oriya had his back to Muraki, and was carefully brushing out his long, silken hair. Muraki had to smile a little, as the familiar smells of incense and tobacco combined started to put him at ease.

Lithe and graceful in his perfect kimono, Oriya looked beautiful beyond words, a stunningly perfect doll. He looked so perfectly serene, a still pond or a cold mountaintop, distant and beautiful, removed from the world. Muraki longed to touch him, to break through that control, to destroy him and to hold him and keep him safe from the world. Such a mixture of emotion, while normal for the errant sorcerer, still bothered Muraki. He didn't like the fact that Oriya had the power to make him feel this much.

He moved silently across the floor, a predator making his way across open ground. He sat on the bed opposite Oriya, and took the brush from his friend, all in one fluid motion. The weight of it in his hand steadied him, brought old memories to fore. He carefully took Oriya's hair in his hands, slowly and patiently working out the few knots in the curtain of heavy brown silk. He had seen Oriya tense as he sat down, but his friend spoke only now, voice calm and flat.

"You were gone so long. I thought you dead."

"Did you think I would die so easily?"

"I was under the impression you meant to." Muraki didn't answer that, perhaps because he had no answer to give. He continued to comb Oriya's hair slowly, the task soothing his frayed nerves. It seemed to heal something deep within him, just being allowed to bask in the peace of Oriya's presence. Oriya seemed to sense it to, because the tension slowly drained from his muscles and he allowed himself to lean back on Muraki.

"Did you…" Muraki started. "I missed you." Oriya finished. Silence took his reign back again. For a moment, they both sat in mutual contemplation. "I took in a boy." Muraki said quietly. Oriya glanced up at him, his eyes wide. Muraki couldn't help but grin. It was startling to see Oriya startled, but also immensely charming. He wanted to lean over and kiss that look away, but he wasn't sure what kind of mood his friend was in. Oriya was the one person Muraki had learned long ago not to push.

"Tell me about him." Muraki did. He told anecdotes, stories—the fond tone of his voice betraying more to Oriya than any of those stories did. Oriya smiled, but sadly, distantly. He had never heard Muraki speak like this. "What are your plans?" Muraki opened his mouth, when an incessant pounding on the door made them both jerk away from each other quickly. Oriya's lips quirked up in a smile. "Guess I'm about to meet the boy."

T.B.C.

Hope you like the third chapter! Again I have to thank Kage-sama! Please review (as usual) and I will keep writing. (Down on my knees with puppy eyes) pleeeeeeaaaaassssee review. For Yuki's sake, of course( *heart*)