Chapter 1

Youji

"Those legs belong to Manx!" I stated with a smile then added mentally: No one else lacks the fashion sense that she does. Socks with high heels?

"You're really something Youji," she teased as she pushed past me to head down to the screening room below the Koneko, the one that no one aside from Weiß and other underlings of Persia knew about.

"What can I say? It's a gift." Flirtatiously I caught up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as we headed down. I knew that I had no chance with the older secretary. To be honest I wasn't sure that I really wanted one. . . But that was half the fun of it.

Aya

From the bottom of the stairwell, I watched the bright screen illuminate the dark room in a wave of haunting blue. Everyone else seemed to cuddle up on the couch as if it was Titanic, not a mission dispatch. These matters should be taken seriously. . . Moreover, I didn't want to have to be so close to the pervert. Especially when he went into womanizing mode.

"WEIß, THERE HAS BEEN A STRING OF MURDERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF KYOTO." Upon the screen the brutal police shots of the poor victims corpses flashed lazily by like the screen saver on a computer. "ALL OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN HOMOSEXUAL MALES. WE HAVE TRACED THE SUSPECT TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE HOSHIKO HOTEL. NO MORE IS KNOWN. . .WEIß HUNTERS OF THE LIGHT. DENY THESE DARK BEASTS THEIR TOMORROWS."

"So we just go find a serial killer? Sounds easy enough." Youji smugly sank back down into the couch.

"Two of us have to pose as a homosexual couple." I stated it blandly enough, but inside my heart was racing. Although my major weakness was Aya-chan, this subject hit too close to home for comfort. . . It could also bring about slurs from my teammates that I simply did not want to hear, and if I did, God knows what I'd do. At best, I'd let my secret be known, at worst, I'd kill Youji.

"Huh?!" The pathetic noise of confusion drew me out of my thoughts.

"Aya is right."

Thank you Manx I mentally sighed.

"All of the victims were homosexual male couples who'd been staying at the Hoshiko Hotel in Kyoto. Two of you will have to pose as a couple and stay there for a week or so, maybe less depending upon how fast the killer works." Manx finished. The 'you're a womanizing bastard and I'm going to take pleasure in seeing you accept this mission' look that she gave Youji was priceless.

"Omi is out for this one," she said. "You three fight over-"

"NOT ME!" Ken shouted with a deep blush.

"Hey! You little brat, I'm not doing it! Youji Kudou doesn't do gay."

"I accept," I blandly stated. I figured if Youji and Ken went it alone they would both die. Whether at each other's hands or the culprit's, one cannot be certain.

"Aya. . ." The look that Youji gave me was confusing, but I paid him no mind. "Alright. . . Ken would just screw it up anyway." His readiness to accept the job came as an utter shock to me. . . Really, there wasn't even three seconds hesitation?. . . The bastard must be hard up for money right now, I resolved internally, needing a reasonable explanation as to why the definition of straight was so willingly going along with this controversial mission.

"Great, you leave tomorrow," Manx smiled, in a slightly evil manner.

"But wait, Manx. . ." Youji's voice sounded a little timid. "How are they supposed to know that we're gay?"

"You make a big showing of it. Holding hands, PDAs, preying on little boys in the bathroom. . . whatever gets attention."

Youji

"PDAs! You've got to be kidding me!" I've heard of those both a blessing and a curse things before but I never thought that they were real! On one hand, I get to make out with the subject of my desires without him knowing that I actually like it, and on the other hand. . . I get to make out with the subject of my desires without him knowing that I actually like it. . .

The dejected look on my face must have been pretty damn pathetic because both Omi and Ken were giggling like the little idiots that they are. Why, oh why God had I agreed to this?!?!

"Urusai! This isn't funny! It's a mission, a very serious matter."

"Sure Yo-tan. . . snicker don't worry. You look cuter with Aya then Ken does anyway." Omi's smile looked like it was about to burst, if he didn't out rightly crack up soon.

"Baka. . ." Well there really wasn't anything that I could do about it now. Looking like a man on death row, I sighed and began to ascend the stairs, each one seemingly more difficult than the one before it.

"Youji." I looked over to see Manx at my side. "If it really seems all that difficult, you could always practice now."

That little-! And here I thought she was going to help me, but noooo. All she could do was tease me like the other two. . .Why wasn't Aya catching any flak for this?

"Why don't you just tease Aya!"

"One, he headed up to his room as soon as he agreed to the mission so no one had a chance. Two, he'd kill me. Three, he's gay so it just wouldn't be funny." With that, the red head just turned and exited, leaving me there with my mouth agape, jaw coming impossibly close to the floor.

Aya. . . was. . .gay? I had thought that the indifference to the girls in the shop was just his stoic nature. He'd told that Sakura girl that he could never love her because he couldn't love anyone. . . What a load of crap, it's because he's gay!. . . That means, I actually have a chance with him!

Kicking my self I muttered, "baka" aloud. Youji Kudou, certified ladies' man, doesn't have chances with people. They have chances with him. . . Still I was shocked, happy, and angry about this secret. Did Manx figure we all knew? Well I knew now and I should've known a long time ago.

Heading up to the apartment my head was filled with thoughts. I needed to talk to Aya before we left tomorrow. . . I just didn't have the slightest idea as to what I should say.

Aya

God dammit, I mentally cursed as I threw a shirt somewhat violently into my suitcase. Manx and Persia were both well aware of my preferences, why'd they have to go and choose a mission like this for us? And with Youji! . . I could have put up with Ken, or Omi had he not been underage. . . But Youji? I could already tell that he was going to be so damn smug about this. Figuring that since he was God's gift to women that men would feel the same way. . .

Damn if only I didn't feel so strongly for him. This pretending could get hard. . . literally. I'm not so sure that I can do this anymore. . . How can I just pretend to have feelings for someone that I really do have feelings for?

Suddenly, there was a knocking at my door. "What?" I asked icily.

"It's me," a familiar voice purred in an unconsciously sexy tone.

"Come in," was my conceded sigh. Not even bothering to turn around I continued packing. As I heard the door open then lightly close once more, I asked: "What do you want."

"Aya, why didn't you tell me you were gay?" The king of bluntness. . . When I didn't out rightly answer, he put in: "Manx told me. . . Ken and Omi don't know. Don't worry your secrets safe with me."

Turning and giving him a glower was all the response I really cared to give. So he knew, well that was just great. Thank you Manx. . . "Does that bother you?" My words were a little too harshly spoken, more of a challenge than a question really, but sometimes you have to be that way, to protect yourself.

"N-no, no need to get defensive. Don't get me wrong Aya-kun. It's just that I've known you for almost two years now and I figured that I should've known that by now."

"There's a lot you don't know about me." That was the truth.

Without invitation he plopped himself gracelessly down upon my bed, propping himself up on his elbows as he gave me an intent gaze. "So what's it like?" He finally asked, I could tell he's been wondering for a while, well for as long as he'd known. . .

"What's what like?"

"Being gay?" When I didn't answer he goaded me on. "Oh come on Aya, we're friends here. Consider it preparing for the mission. Sex gods like me aren't really versed in that sort of thing."

"Thing?" I queried, my vocal tone not changing but I'm sure that he sensed a slightly offended residing anger.

"Oh come on, you know I didn't mean it like that. Seriously, I need to know."

"Love is love," my answer was plain as I folded another sweater and shoved it into the bag. Kyoto was rather chilly this time of year and I had no idea how long we'd be forced to stay there.

My answer earned me a little snicker. Glancing harshly at the idiot didn't bring the abrupt end to laughter that it usually granted me. "I'm sorry Aya. . . I just, it's hard to imagine you being in love."

Youji was seriously beginning to piss me off with his assumptions. Walking up to where he was reclined I rather roughly grabbed a fistful of his flaxen locks, drawing his head back so that he was forced to meet my stare. He flinched slightly in pain but didn't resist. My words were whispered lowly with ice, but they were perfectly coherent.

"I'm more proficient at sex than you could ever dream to be, have had my name screamed more times in pleasure than you doubled. Hn, the whores you pick up probably don't even know your name and are too drunk to care. . . A real master doesn't have to brag of his triumphs, they speak for themselves when the time is right."

With that, I let go of his hair roughly and calmly continued about my business of packing.

Youji

Aya's had sex? Well he's twenty, one should hope so by that age. . . And if his words were true, and they probably were seeing as he's never given me reason to doubt him before, he was good at it?. . . Why was it so difficult for me to grasp that?. . . Most likely because sex was fun and it involved strong positive emotions, neither of which had I ever witnessed the younger assassin express.

"Aya, I'm. . . stunned."

"Hn."

"Have you ever. . . Had sex with a woman?" This could get interesting. As much fun as it was telling all the other Weiß boys about my exploits, I never really was let in on anyone else's.

"Have you ever had sex with a man?"

"Don't answer a question with a question!. . . And no, of course not." Not that I really minded the notion. Knowing that Aya'd done it before was making me warm up to the idea more and more by the minute. According to his little tirade, he's even better than I am. . . I'd like to meet my match.

"There's your answer."

". . . Wanna practice?" I invited nervously. I hoped that my anxiety hadn't carried over into my come on.

"Practice what?" His icy glare bored holes into me. I loved his beautiful eyes, but God dammit I hated that look!

"For the mission!"

"I don't need any practice; I know how to be gay."

"Well I don't!" I insisted as I stood to walk to his side.

"Hn, the playboy is asking for my help in the sexual department. You must be getting pretty desperate." Oh, I could just smack the smug look off his face! The little bastard was enjoying this, beating me at my own game.

"Oh come on Aya, what do you want me to do? Beg?"

With a sigh he turned back to me, his glare had softened at my plea. "Fine. For the mission. . .What do you need to practice?"

"Everything! Like I'll have to hold your hand, hug you, kiss you. . ."

"As hard as this might be for your small mind to grasp, the mechanics of kissing don't change with gender."

His cockiness was getting frustrating. I could've handled iciness but this mockery was something that I'd never seen Aya express before. . . "Prove it then!" With that, I pulled him up against me and pressed my lips roughly to his. They were soft and moist, flavorless without the greasy lip-gloss that girls just assume men like. I urged his lips apart with my tongue, needing to see for myself what it was really like. . . Aya was wrong, it was different. Same action but so different. His kiss, although no less finessed than my own, was rougher than a woman's was. Less timid, more assured and demanding. There was no hint of submission, but I didn't feel dominated either. . . It felt like we were on an equal level.

I dragged it out longer than was necessary, but then again I wasn't getting any complaints from his end either. Finally, I broke it off, our lips making a heavy smacking sound.

"Well I suppose that I could manage to put up with that for a week." I said with a melodramatic sigh, as I self-consciously took a step back away from him.

"Don't strain yourself." With the back of his hand, he wiped his mouth abruptly. Oh please, how childish. That's what Aya was. A child with a temper trapped in a man's body. . . For some reason I found myself fighting snickers, knowing that laughter would help nothing.

"Well goodnight. . . Aya-koi," I gave him a cocky wink and then made my leave of his disturbingly immaculate room.

Aya

At the jokingly flirtatious gesture, my eyes rolled. Then the second thought came to my mind and hit me like a ton of bricks. . . I'd just kissed Youji. . . Well he'd kissed me actually. . . And what are those girls getting so flustered about? He's not that good at it. . . Well maybe just a little.

Just great. He knows my secret now, and he's probably going to use it against me every chance he gets. At least he doesn't seem to mind, that's a relief. Despite the fact that we're not, well at least not what I would refer to as friends, being on hostile terms would really make things like living, working, and murdering people together much less pleasant. On the other hand, whoever said that they were pleasant before?