Chapter 10

Youji

By the time we both got out to the car we were freezing our asses off. Right about now I wished that we'd taken Aya's Porsche as opposed to Seven. At least the Porsche had a roof!

"Hurry up and unlock the damn door!" Aya growled between violent shivers.

"Aya, it's a convertible."

"Then why the hell did you lock it?!" Okay, good point. Why did I lock it?

"To keep-" Suddenly what was escalating into an argument was disrupted by a bright shock of colors bursting into the sky. I had forgotten that there was a fireworks show. First the bright little dot followed by a thin stream would speed up into the air and as it hit its apex, it would burst with a crackle into a red flower, pretty for a moment then leaving the smoky, spider like smoke streams in its wake. Others would soon follow, silent golden showers and loud screaming blue flames.

"It's been years since I've seen fireworks," Aya was the first to softly comment as be both climbed into the car, yet I made no move to turn it on. "Which kind do you like best?" His question surprised me, Aya never seemed the type to care, much less have favorites of any sort. . . I had no idea which ones were my favorite.

"Hmm. . . I kind of like the purple ones. Icy purple yet you know that it's really burning fire." My God that was the worst line I'd ever used in my entire life, I realized, as I looked into his eyes.

"Hn, the purple ones are the hardest to make you know."

"Unlike the green ones, they're pretty easy to get," I murmured not sure as to whether our conversation had a deeper meaning at this point or not. Sometimes it was difficult to determine the difference when speaking with Aya. We could be talking about us as people, the fireworks metaphors for our eyes. . . Or we could just be talking about pretty little rockets, who the hell knew anymore?

"Yeah but I still like them the best. . ." Looking at me, I could've sworn that I'd seen a small shy smile grace his features. "I like the golden ones too, the ones that go up then fall down slowly, just long and shining. . ." My god if this was actually about fireworks I'd die! Aya was actually hitting on me! Wow. That's. . . Weird.

With a grin I retorted. "I like the shocking explosions of red," my point was driven home by me fingering one of his little ear tendrils.

"Youji-"

"Everyone always says that you're like ice Aya, but really I think that you're more like fire. . . A fire work, just beautiful. Only everyone's afraid of getting burned."

A small shock factor caused his pupils to dilate and I could tell that he was fighting the emotions that were trying to play upon his features. "Are you afraid of being burned Youji?"

"No. . ." Caressing his cheek I leaned in more closely to the redhead. "I used to be, but now I welcome it. . . What about you?" If anything came to interrupt this moment it'd die in seconds flat. Finally I was getting through to the surprisingly dense redhead. Always I'd known him to be more perceptive then most when it came to others emotions, why was it that he'd seen past mine for so long?

". . .Drowning. . . You're like water. You look calm on the surface but below you're hiding waves of emotions. I- Someone, could drown in you."

"Does that scare you Aya?" As we'd been speaking our faces were being magnetically drawn in together. I could feel breath leaving his lips and passing in through my nostrils. The air around us was steamy and beneath my fingertips on his cheek I could feel Aya tremble.

"Isn't it rational to be afraid to drown?"

Closing the gap between us our lips met moistly. His were cold, as were my own, but his seeking tongue was hot. The warmth of his mouth was very inviting out in the cold night air. Reaching across the bench seat I drew him close into me, warming him with my body.

After a few moments of gentle, unhurried kissing Aya drew his lips away from mine, leaving them cold and wanting more. "I think that we should go someplace warmer."

"Yeah," I agreed with a sigh, "it's freezing out here." Giving him one last peck, I moved back over to the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. With a rumble the car started and cold air began to blow through the heater, luckily it was warming up fast. As I pulled out from the spot and began winding through the labyrinth like parking lot, I used one arm to pull Aya in closer to me. With a small sigh of either surprise or relief the redhead gave into the embrace and leaned back against me.

Aya

With a fought back smile, I snaked my arm around Youji's slender waist and leaned my face against him. Despite the cold his body felt surprisingly warm. Sighing softly, I let my mind wander away from me as I evaded thoughts of what was to come when we arrived back at the hotel. . . All my life I've always seemed to have a sixth sense, a keen understanding of what's going on around me and being able to understand the feelings of others. Except for, that is, when those feelings involve me. I learned long ago to never assume anything when it comes to other's opinions of you, after doing that for so long it's hard to believe that anyone can feel anything for you at all.

How could he, Youji straight-as-an-arrow, playboy extraordinaire really be interested in me? Not only was I not a woman but I wasn't anything even close to his type either! Youji likes dumb, yet charming girls. He likes girls that are pretty and cute with decent senses of humor. . . I'm not anything like the women that he goes for.

What if this is just something that he needs to get out of his system, a little curiosity left over from his puberty years and this is a cruel experiment in which I am the guinea pig? Was this mission just a convenient excuse?. . . Perhaps he's had sex so many times with so many different people that he's just gotten tired and wants to try something new?. . . Would I be okay with that? After all, this is only a residing, juvenile affection. This is not one of those bittersweet romances from movies that make young girls cry. This is built up sexual tension that needs to be resolved. . .

"We're back lovely." Opening my eyes and looking up I realized that we were, indeed, back at the Hoshiko hotel. Damn, I hadn't realized that I'd dozed off. "Shall we?" Invitingly he offered me his arm. Falling back into character I slipped my own through his as we made our way back to our room. Thankfully we waited until there were other passengers upon the elevator before boarding.

Tension lay thick enough to slice in the air as we walked down the dimly lit hall that lead back to our room. For all decisions there are three deciding factors: heart, body, and mind. Currently my body was saying yes, my mind saying no and my heart was undecided. On one had this could be my first and last opportunity to be with the blonde like this. Flip it around, however, and realize that he's just horny and doesn't give a damn about my feelings.

As we approached the door he fished out one of the card like keys that would grant us access in. Sliding it in the bulky metal lock a green light flashed and the door opened gently. "After you," he offered with a charming catlike grin.

Stepping into the room I decided to ignore my brain for the time being and go with my body, fuck my feelings. It would just admit a weakness if I let my guard down enough to verify that there were, indeed, and feelings at all.

He began to head for the bedroom area but I stopped him. "No. . . Not in front of the camera." Taking his wrist in a gentle grip I forced Youji to follow me into the large bathroom.

"Hn. . . I've always liked bathroom sex Aya-koi. . " Something in his seductive tone as he breathed the word sex caused a shiver to fluctuate throughout my body. Never before had I felt so virginal. . .Then again, it had been a very long time. . .

Hands were soon gripped low on my hips and a leg was between my own. Hot breath tickled my lips for a moment before they were buried beneath another mouth. Compliantly my own arms snaked around his neck. Arching up into the embrace, my lips began to fight back roughly. Brazen and passionate our kissing was almost brutal, but still so good. . .

For a brief moment I felt disoriented as I was lifted to a sitting position upon the marble counter top of the sink. There was a slight nibbling suckle upon the crook of my neck that caused me to moan more loudly that I'd have liked to admit. "Youji. . ."

Strong hands crept up the hemline of my sweater to tease my small nipples, lightly circling with an index finger then, a little more roughly, pinching. My head was light and dizziness came over me. As his lips and tongue laid an onslaught of pleasure to my neck I brought my legs around his hips, drawing the blonde man in closer to me.

Lifting my arms momentarily I allowed him to remove my top. Stopping his ministrations for a moment Youji took in the sight presented before him- the man smiled. "God you're beautiful Aya. . . I never thought of a man as beautiful before but Aya you're simply gorgeous."

Suddenly I felt a great heat in my cheeks as I valiantly fought against the childish grin that was begging me to let it form. Never before had anyone given me such genuine, nor excessive, compliments as Youji had been for the past two days. . . Only two days. Wow, it seemed like it had been an eternity together, I can't believe that it's truly been such a short time.

"Youji," my husky whisper startled me as I drew him back to kiss me once again. The third party, my heart, was beginning to make its decision. . .

When suddenly there was a loud rapping upon the door. "God dammit!" Wow, Youji could be loud when he was horny. Turning back to me he placed a gentle finger upon my parted lips. "Hold that thought koi." Adjusting his pants the blonde made his way to answer the door.

What I heard next shocked me.

Youji

"Ken?!" Outside of our hotel door was none other than the bugnuck user himself. Along with him was a short blonde girl with large blue eyes. She was wearing a short pleated skirt and a red sweater, matching clips held back her short hair. Hmm. . . The girl looked awfully familiar. . .

"Omi?" Aya was now coming out of the bathroom as he adjusted his messed up clothing and hair, trying in vain to hide what we'd been up to if the bulges in both of our pants had not yet given us away already.

"Uh guys, I'd like you to meet Omika." Omika? Hmph, you think that they could come up with a better name. . . My God though, Omi was in drag, not that it was a first time offense mind you, but never before had he looked so convincing.

"We need to meet with you guys. . . About the mission. Our room is just down the on the third floor 485. . . Meet us down there in a few minutes."

"Ya know you could've called!" I protested angrily. God dammit we'd been interrupted or something had gone wry every freaking time that we'd tried to have sex! Why God why?!? Mentally I cursed kami-sama and hoped that that Farfarello guy would indeed make him cry. . . It'd serve him right for sabotaging my love life. (AN: Sodomy hurts god )

Soon we were all gathered down in the chibi and jock's room. Hmph, how come they got to have two separate beds?

"What have you guys learned about the target?" Omika who had now unstuffed her bra asked from her seat upon the bed. . .Someone should tell Omi that it's unbecoming of a young lady to sit like that while wearing a skirt. . . And kitty-chan panties. . .

"Really went for authenticity didn't cha bishounen?" I mocked, pointing towards the free for all open skirt.

"Huh. . ." Looking down he realized that the frilly little underwear were now on display. "Youji-kun!"

I only chuckled in response.

"Honestly though, what have you heard?"

"There are three suspects so far," Aya stoically commented. "One a common employee, a higher up named Ayame Junko, and lastly another employee named Seiko."

"Seiko?" That man couldn't be a suspect. "He can't be the killer!"

"And why not?" Turning towards me the redhead shot daggers of ice in his glare. Man I hate that look now more than ever! After two days of seeing warmth and humanity in the ice block it was awkward to see him acting as his old self. . .

"Because he is gay, that's why he divorced his wife Aya. Why would a gay man go around killing other gay men?"

"He could be lying I suppose, trying to get closer to the victim. . . " Ken offered disinterestedly as he flipped through all of the channels. "Hey look, we get porn!"

"Ken-kun!" Omi's blush was rather adorable.

"At least I'm not the only one," I sighed with a smile. For once the perversion was shared throughout the team.

"Turn that off! We need to discuss the mission."

"Aww, but it's my favorite! Sinderella!" I whined jokingly. However my protests did little to serve me for Ken turned the television off rather quickly.

"Alright. There are been two attempts at our lives so far. One was in the elevator shaft, the other was in foodservice. We need to find out who has access to both. It would take a great deal of skill to crash an elevator like that. . ."

Bleh, boring. I tried to fight a yawn but it was a losing battle.

"This target is difficult to get information on. . . Are you sure that you two are acting queer enough?" Ken asked unsurely, trying not to insult our acting abilities.

"Believe me we have!" My god we probably put other gay couples to shame just in the one purple thong incident! How many people got raunchy enough in a public hot tub, while other people were in the room, to actually break clothing?!?!

"All of the other victims have been killed either poisoning or gunshots," Omi informed us. "Perhaps the elevator was genuinely an accident.

Shaking his head Aya denounced that theory. "We can't shake anything off as circumstance."

"But Aya-kun, we can't not have any leads either! If we disregarded the elevator it would be very easy to assume that the target is someone in the room service department." Omi protested.

"Perhaps they staged the elevator incident to take suspicion away from them?"

"Either way you're sitting ducks. . . That's why Manx sent us here after you." Omi informed with a smile. "I don't like having to be a girl though, but if we were both guys we'd be targeted too."

"Gods you guys must be hating this mission. . ." Ken groaned his sympathy.

Without thinking I slipped, "nah, it's actually been kinda fun."

"NANI!?!" Both of the chibis cried in unison. Sparing a glace at Aya, my cuteness radar detected a blush and a small twitch upward at the corners of his lips.

"Yeah, didn't you know that girls dig gay guys?" Teasingly I laughed it off. "Besides we got to go to Great Kyoto! Wanna see a picture of Aya?" Excitedly I withdrew the cute little wallet sized photo from the back of my pocket.

"Don't you dare Kudou!" The redhead's growl had been intended as intimidating but I didn't care. The picture was just too adorable. With tightly shut eyes and a broad, open mouthed smile. . . Aww. . . My God I'm a loser.

Taking the picture from me just as Aya was about to swipe it both Ken and Omi began to giggle like little school girls. "Aya-kun. . . I've never seen you smile like that before."

Retorting with an indignant snort the man just grumbled. "It's the evil of airbrushing. . ."

"Man I wish that I got to go to theme parks on missions. . . It's not fair!"

"Oh hush," I reprimanded Ken. "You get free porn, what more do you want?"

"Youji-kun?!"

"I can't watch it with Omi in the room!" The jock protested.

"Oh don't act so innocent Omi, we all know why you're always on the computer. ." Winking I began to head for the door. "It's late. We can talk about all of this mission crap later."

"Youji I don't like porn!" Wow, he forgot the kun I must be getting to him; I sniggered internally.

"Come along honey" I gestured for Aya to come along with me.

"Get the files on all of the hotel employees in the room and food service departments and eliminate any unlikely suspects."

"Aya-kun-"

"It's for the mission."

Aya

The trip back to the room was uneventful and silent, both of us kind of at a loss. Earlier it had been hormones or something of that extent. . . but now that things had been cooled off and with the eminentness of the mission fresh in our minds. . . Well the romantic atmosphere had been killed- so to speak.

As we were entering the room once again we shared a moment in the doorway before entering the cameras sights. So much for the VCR switch-a-roo plan. "Aya. . ." Youji started as he brought a hand up to slick back a piece of my unruly crimson hair.

"Let's. . . just go to sleep Youji." Right now I really wasn't in the mood for anything. Not my body, heart, or mind.

"Alright." The tone in his voice gave away his own tiredness as well; it had been a very long day. Entering the main area we did not bother to even turn on the lights, not really needing them. Rustling sounds could be heard as Youji began to disrobe, followed shortly by a thud as his clothes hit the floor. I followed suit, stripping down to only my boxers. Blindly I felt about the bed, luckily it was still unmade which made it easier to crawl under the covers.

With a sigh I forced myself to relax into the cool of the sheets, which was contrasted by the warmth of Youji as he settled in beside me. There was squeaked protest from the bed frame, as he turned to face me and pulled my body against his.

"Gomen Aya." His words were tickling against my neck as he softly whispered his remorse.

"What for?" My own arms encircled his torso. . . I felt so unlike myself. Never before had I been much of a cuddly person, much less with someone that I wasn't even involved with! Had someone told me that I'd fall in lo. . .That'd I'd feel for the bastard before going on this mission and that I'd show him a side that no one had seen in two years. . . Well if someone had told me that I'd have either run them through with my katana or die laughing. . . This was so unlike me, but as my fingers felt the smooth expanse of his back , it scared me that it felt so right.

"Saa. . . I don't know. . . For the stupid cross dressing chibis showing up and interrupting an intimate moment."

"You mean you're sorry that you didn't get any."

"Well. . Yeah. I really do want you Aya," in assurance of his words the older assassin's lips brushed against my forehead.

"You'd want anything alive and willing," I scoffed. Ah, there's the me that I knew.

"Aya! I mean it. . . I really do care-"

"Just go to sleep Youji." The conversation ended there as I nestled into pocket of his shoulder and did my best to ignore the world around me. Right now I must only think of the mission. Not the growing feelings between Youji and myself, nor my melting exterior and a perverseness in my character that was frightening me. Only the mission. . .