Tainted Romance

Chapter V

'Silence'

A Weiss Kreuz Fanfiction

Part five of seven

Revised

A gentle knock rapped against the door, disturbing the quiet air in which Ken was surrounded. He stirred from his sleep, opening a single eye to fall against the white wall before him in which the bed was pushed against. From the window, morning light seeped through the closed blinds, spilling atop the beds head and warming its sheets.

He stifled a cry and wrapped himself tighter in the blanketed cocoon he had created in his sleep, pulling the comforter above his head to surround himself in darkness again.

He didn't want to be awake, he wanted to sleep. He wanted to sleep away in the darkness that comforted him, into forever. But even his sleep had been taunting him, throwing painful memories into his minds eye, and recalling past incidents in which he fought to forget. Even imagined plays his nightmares created.

Another knock rapped against the door, louder. He cringed beneath the blankets and suppressed a growl; least the person figure out he was awake. Maybe they'd just go away, he thought puffing a breath of air.

"Ken-Kun?" The unlocked door slowly opened with the third knock, and a body stepped in and around the door. "Ken-kun?"

Ken stayed silent, hopeful that the young blonde would leave soon. He didn't want to be bothered; he just wanted to be left alone.

What time was it any ways? If it was Saturday, why did Omi want him on a day they didn't have to work?

He heard the silent sigh and the feet that treaded towards him, placing something on the bedside stand beside him with a soft thud. The room remained silent a moment as the boy seemed to contemplate waking him. Deciding against it, he retreated from the room with a quiet click of the doors closing.

Ken opened his eyes from under the blankets, having been unable to bring himself to confront the boy.

He shifted in his cocoon; curiosity overtaking his interest to snuggle in the thick blankets warmth back to sleep. Slowly squirming from the blankets cave to pull the blanket from his head, he peaked over it, turning towards the bedside stand to the objects set down.

A tray.

Steam rose from the red porcelain centered bowl, the metallic spoon to its right reflecting the morning sun as it came through the window. Half a sandwich lay to the bowls right, a napkin folded neatly underneath and a glass of juice to the top.

It was too neat, he decided.

He shuffled back under the covers.

Youji was incapable of such neatness, and while Omi certainly was, he doubted very much that the boy had gone to the trouble of setting it perfectly. Aya was the only one who self-consciously perfected everything... Aya.

Oh no.

He growled, and shut his eyes tightly together, running a hand self-consciously over his abdomen. Rummaging over the soft ridges of the cotton fabric, he blinked.

Fresh bandages tied about him.

His mind questioned his conclusion. Had someone re-bandaged the area while he was asleep? Was that possible? He had never been much of a heavy sleeper; he could thank his decision in professions for that. He supposed the painkillers could knock you out enough to not know. He growled again. His stomach responded back loudly.

Another knock came from the door, this time harder. Ken pulled tighter into the curled up position he held on his side. What was it with these people, couldn't they just leave him alone in peace! He fought the temptation to hurtle something in the doors direction, or spout foreign words to the person behind it. No, he thought, that would tell them he was awake. And that in turn would lead to questions. Questions he didn't want to answer.

This time the person didn't wait to knock a second time, but choose to let himself in.

The smell of nicotine pressed strongly against him seconds after the door opened as he attempted to seclude himself farther within the cocoon. Silent a moment before treading across the room, the figures form pressed down against his bed, sitting to Ken's back.

Ken pulled the blankets tighter about him, scowling underneath them.

"I know your awake, Ken. Are you going to stay in here the rest of your life?" Youji's placed a hand atop the blanket, gently pulling down what covered the younger boys head past his shoulders.

Ken sighed and opened his eyes, still facing the wall. No use pretending he still wasn't awake, knowing Youji even if he hadn't been awake, he was liable to strangle him to death trying to wake him. Not exactly what he had in mind for his death.

Youji smiled down upon him, running his hand underneath his sweaty chocolate bangs. "How you feelin?" he paused, taking a minute to feel his own forehead in comparison, "Hm, You don't feel like you have a fever anymore, that's good. You've been out for a day and a half; we were starting to get worried about you."

Ken's head snapped to Youji, a day and a half? What about his shift at the Kenoko, why hadn't anyone woken him?

"Don't worry, Aya took your shifts. You're not scheduled to work for another couple of days, you freeloader, Aya and Omi wouldn't here of it. Yes that's right, I did say Aya, the little stoic bastard does have some heart in him yah know. "

Aya had taken his shifts at the Koneko?

But...

But why?

Aya hated him, he was sure of it. The way he constantly pushed him away, the deathly cold glares and... and the last mission. He'd screwed up and Aya hated him for it. What little trust Aya may have finally put in him at been gone within that instant. There wasn't any way Aya didn't hate him now, and he didn't know why he didn't hear faint shi-ne's resounding throughout the building as the red-head plotted his death.

Youji's eyes wandered about the apartment, taking in the messy atmosphere his eyes fell to the floor where his feet rested. His eyes twitched, "Have you ever thought of cleaning Kenken?" He asked in disgust, lifting his feet rapidly when he swore something moved beneath them. "Really."

"Youji I'm fine, you can leave now." Ken moved from his curled position to sit upright against the headboard, running a hand through his damp hair. "Besides, you reek of smoke. Leave."

Youji raised a slender brow in retort, "And your one to talk, look at you."

Ken's eyes narrowed, "Out!"

"Shesh, is this what I get for being such a good friend? Here I come to check on you, taking time out of my busy schedule! Do you know how many dates I had to cancel because of you? Huh? I mean I could be-"

"Get out!" Ken interrupted; desperately attempting to avoid Youji's many sex stories.

"You wound me!" Youji moved up from the bed, holding his hands to his heart and taking a step back. Ken growled, his voice rising with anger, "GET OUT!"

Youji just laughed in contempt, taking yet another step backwards from the now seething brunette.

"Youji! Get the fuck out!" his pillow billowed past the blonde now at his doorway, and into the hallway. Youji's laughter died with his surprise, the pillow barely missing him. Ken prepared a second to launch when Youji gave a quick smirk and closed the door securely behind him.

But why...

From downstairs, Omi sweat dropped, the sounds of hurtling objects could be clearly heard smashing into obstacles within its path. The person throwing the objects could be heard even clearer through thin walls and the floor above them. The second voice was slightly smaller in tone with a startled cry of words he'd rather not repeat, loud enough however for all to hear in the Koneko.

Omi turned to Aya, wrapping a small bouquet of flowers for an elderly lady at the counter, his attention drawn away from his task at hand for the briefest of seconds towards the bellowing sounds upstairs.

The smallest of smiles splayed across his lips for an instant before the red head turned back to his task.

"Sounds like Ken-kuns alright! Although I'm not to sure about Youji!" He laughed, taking pleasure in seeing a smile across Aya's face, even if it was a small one. The stoic leader had become utterly silent in the last few days. Almost non-existent, worse so than his usually self; he wouldn't even yell at Youji for any of his faults. But the sound of Ken's voice seemed to bring a bit of spark back to him, and he moved much more gracefully, and he seemed... Happy.

Omi turned back to preparing the display case as Youji entered the store, rubbing the back of his neck. "Damn, he may be hurt but he's still one big pain in the ass if you ask me."

"Youji." Omi lowered his voice in disapproval, sending an equally disapproving glare over his shoulder.

"Right, right."

"Get back to work Koudo." Aya's voice spoke breaking the conflict rising between the two. Youji blinked with widened eyes, "He speaks!"

But the reality was Youji was right. It had been days since Aya had said anything... Days since... Ken's accident. Even the smallest of remarks never graced his lips, his voice never passing through them. He remained silent and stoic.

Aya chose to ignore the comment and returned to his work. Omi on the other hand let a hand linger above the flowers he was working with before turning to Youji, "Youji... did he eat what I brought up?"

Youji remained silent a moment, lowering his gaze to the floor, "Sorry chibi... I didn't look." In truth he had looked, and been rather angered at the fact that the stubborn brunette hadn't eaten anything; he'd only curled up and gone back to sleep. But he didn't want to worry the young blonde any more than he already was about him. Omi had a tendency to be rather over protective, like a mother, always worried about those around him.

Omi nodded.

It was another few hours before Ken finally mustered up the courage to leave his room. Having taken a shower and eating what was laid before him, despite the personal preference as to who made it hunger finally over powered him, and he emerged silently from his room; still hungry and in search of more food.

Looking to the clock, he noted that the others would still be in the shop a bit longer as they started to close for the night. He should be able to grab something from the fridge and high tail it back upstairs before they left the shop, he thought. He ran a hand through his shower damp hair, he didn't know what was worse, the fact that he was hiding, or the pain within him. And he felt weak for it.

Walking down the stairs, he paused for a break at the stairs base. All this movement had taken a bit out of him for his body still felt weak and frail. This wouldn't do he decided, he'd never been one for weakness; he'd have to build his strength back up, and the sooner the better. He didn't like feeling vulnerable.

Finding the kitchen empty he leapt for the fridge, his stomach growling with anticipation despite the food that he had already eaten. What he found was not what he was looking forward to.

The fridge was empty.

Besides half empty bottles of his sports drinks and two jugs of milk the fridge was almost barren. Nothing even remotely suitable for eating existed in the starch white fridge.

There's nothing here, he sighed in frustration, still rummaging through its scattered contents with a desperate hope that he might salvage something from it. He sighed for a second time when his attempts failed, grabbing one of his sports drinks to down.

"Ken-kun!" The overenthusiastic boy's voice sent the contents in his mouth spewing across him as he turned to spray the boy in the face. He coughed and would have stood in embarrassment if he hadn't chocked on the liquids that had made its way down his throat. Coughing in fits he ran to the sink and stood over it, letting the liquid that trickled down his chin settle into the sink.

Omi stood with an eyebrow raised as he kept his gaze to where Ken had once been. He commented to himself, Nice to see you too, Ken-kun.

Hearing the fits of coughing, Aya and Youji had leapt from the now closed store and into the connecting kitchen, leaving brooms to clatter to the floor. Worried expressions of fear crossed them as they recognized the voice chocking in fits.

"Ken!" Their voices rose in unison, and stopped short at the sight before them. Omi still stood centered in the kitchen; dripping with a yellow liquid, while Ken hovered over the sink.

His fit dying down, Ken turned back to the not so amused boy he'd sprayed. "SHIT! Don't do that Omi!" He let another cough slide.

"Nice greeting, Ken." Youji laughed quite amused at the situation as he came to understand. Grabbing a towel from the counter he rubbed down the younger boy still silent before he roared beneath it. "I'm all sticky! Ken!"

Ken quirked half a smile, embarrassed he scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, Omittichi, but didn't anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on people like that?" his voice squeaked.

"Hm." Omi's bemused face fell with the towel as he wiped his face clean, "Any ways, I'm glad to see your up. Are you feeling any better? Did you eat what I brought up for you? Aya made it, so it should be good."

Ken's happy façade dropped slightly and his eyes turned away from the gaze the others held upon him. His voice became soft and transparent, "... Yeah, Omi... ."

So Aya had made the food; his stomach felt light suddenly.

"So you ate then? Are you still hungry? We weren't sure if you'd be all that hungry or not when you got up, but from finding you in the fridge I'd guess you still are." Omi's genki spirit returned full swing, "What would you like to eat?"

"Omi... that's okay... I can go out and get something myself." He made to move, and had successfully padded, despite his weariness, across the kitchen when Youji's appeared behind him, his slender finger pocking his side. Ken's eyes widened and a large rasping gasp escaped from his lips as he leaned forward to clutch the wall. Letting the pain subside an instant before turning on edge, he raged "Youji! What the fuck was that for?!"

The blonde's eyebrow quirked, "Just testing something. Doesn't look like your going anywhere. You can barely make it across the kitchen, let alone across town. Ken you're a horrible liar, even if you're not saying anything. Your steps were slow and practiced. You wouldn't make it out the door without collapsing from exhaustion. You've been sick for three days Ken; you're injured and can barely move. You can't expect to get out of bed and suddenly be okay. It doesn't work like that, Ken." He crossed his arms, looking for defiance in the younger brunette eyes.

And it came.

Ken growled, clenching right fist angrily, "Fuck off!"

"Love to." He crooked a smile. He was willing to play Kens little game, just as long as no one got hurt, but he sighed drawing this game to an abrupt end. "Why don't we all go out and grab something to eat, huh? We can take Seven, that way your not being treated like a child, and we don't have to worry about you walking around town in your condition."

"Whatever, I'm not hungry anymore."

Youji's glasses slid from the brim of his nose, his eyes rolling up in frustration. "What, so you can stay here while were gone and sneak out? I don't think so; quit being a pain in the ass Ken."

Aya stepped forward, letting his presence be known and taking full charge of the situation, something he hadn't done in days. "Enough."

From the rack, he quickly grabbed two coats, his own and a dark brown leather jacket. Forcing the jackets underneath one arm, he firmly placed his hand around Kens arm, pulling the boy along with him into the garage. "You're coming with us."

The red head left no room for argument, and the others followed suit behind silently in observation. Ken followed in a state of shock, unable to force movement upon his jaw, or find his own voice still hiding. Instead, his feet moved unwillingly behind Aya as he was dragged firmly but gently behind the silent red head.

Being this close to him, Ken could feel color rise to his cheeks in a slight blush. He could sense the warmth Aya's body presented close to his, and the gentle grip upon his arm unyielding.

It was when they reached the car Ken noticed it. His jacket, it should be soiled with blood, he couldn't wear it, someone would see it. His eyes widened in shock as his eyes searched over the leather inside and out. Nothing. Not even a drop of blood smeared the outside. His hands roamed the inside pulling the jackets flaps wrapped around him to where he could see.

Not a drop.

Not a drop of blood could visible be seen anywhere on his jacket. His mind wavered; his jacket should be coated in it down to the very last inch of its fabric with his own blood, and others. His brows furrowed in confusion, had someone cleaned it? But who... Omi?

Aya saw the teen's confused expression and the thorough inspection of his favorite jacket. "I cleaned it."

Ken's looked to him in confusion, Aya's eyes never turning to return the glance as he pushed them both into the cars back seat. Yet he remained a silent prisoner on the trip, leaving Omi and Youji to their idle chatter in the front seat. He sat in his back seat as close to the door as he could get, his elbow propped upon the door and his non-existent glare directed out the window in thought.

Aya noticed this.

The way the brunette flinched at his touch and froze, and how his body seemed to scream to get away as he positioned himself all to close to the door in the car. Did he scare him that much?

His heart fell.

He knew he was distant and rather avoidant at times, but did he really scare Ken? Or was it something else... What Youji had said? Ken seemed surprised to Aya's choice of seating, the red head would usually have taken seat up front and leave the two younger boys to find seats within the back. Why did he choose to sit behind rather than up front, he questioned himself? Was there a reason, or had it just been reflex to sit with someone that was injured, as a way of somehow protecting them?

No. Ken was in no danger. The only threat he posed was exhausting himself, and that didn't seem to likely with the three of them around. But still...

"This place good?" Youji's voice penetrated through his thoughts as Seven pulled into the restaurants parking lot.

The sun had long since fallen bellow the horizon, and given way to the blanketed darkness and shimmering stars. Street lamps and buildings lit the busy city, glittering with dancing lights. The restaurant itself was darkly lit, the outside giving off a rather gloomy vibe to an all too luxurious restaurant. Neon green lights pulled around the buildings base, lighting the walkway to one side.

Pulling into an empty space, Youji turned his head over his shoulder, looking to Aya, who nodded, and to Ken in particular. "Well Kenken?"

Ken didn't dignify himself with a response; his hand was already at the doors handle and pushing himself out, promptly removing himself from the cars current occupants. Youji sighed giving a glance to the others before following pursuit, "This place it is then."

At the restaurants front Ken waited impatiently, his body leaning carefully up against the side, away from the busy intersection of traffic passing. The hostess currently on duty looked in awkward need of help, her questions unanswered by the silent brunette. Ken's happy façade diminished. Even Aya's cold demeanor would have been welcomed.

At Youji's entrance, she turned in relief, Youji briefly apologizing for the younger boy's behavior. The young hostess quickly bowed and invited them to a current seating available within the confines of the restaurants darker corner.

Seating them quickly, the young girl once again bowed and left saying the waitress would be here shortly. Ken shifted into the booths confines, seating himself to the booths right inside, Youji directly across from him and Omi following him into the booth beside him.

Aya paused before seating himself beside Ken, feeling rather awkward at the moment. If this upset Ken, he made no notion to protest, he simply positioned himself comfortably within the booth and closed his eyes and folded his arms lightly over his chest.

"Youji, what is this place? Have you been here before?" Across from him, Omi's eyes wandered in amusement, taking in the restaurants scenery in detail, his assassin skills never leaving him.

"Ne, chibi. I heard about it from a few friends. I hear the lady's love it."

"Youji!" Omi's eyes fell back to the tables inside left inhabitant angrily. Youji ruffled his hair in amusement, "Would you rather I take you to one of the clubs I frequent?" Omi's angry glare soon faded, a small-reddened blush sprinkling across his nose, "No!"

"Hai, I thought so." Youji smirked having satisfied the urge to taunt the innocent blonde, one of his favorite games. The way his blush spread across the bridge of his nose into a dark crimson got him every time. He didn't know how someone could blush so much just at the mention of sex. It was almost as fun as teasing poor Ken, the way he blushed he practically glowed like it was midnight and not a light could be seen for miles. They were too cute! He laughed a little to himself, reaching into the front pocket of his slacks for his box of cigarettes. He chose to ignore the piercing glare Aya sent his way as he lifted a single cigarette to his lips to light it. He let the flame flicker within the lighter a little longer than needed, watching in fascination as the light battled the shadows across Ken's downcast face.

Damn. His heart fell knowing the pain he was in. He couldn't take it knowing his best friend was in so much turmoil inside. You could see it in the way he moved, you could see it on his lips, how they never truly parted in a smile of happiness, but the way his eyes lingered briefly on the person beside him, only to forcefully tare themselves away because of the throbbing lull inside of his heart haunted Youji the most.

How was it possible that he couldn't see, how was it so oblivious to the one it really mattered to? With all their training, and all their skills, how was it not possible for him to see such pain in the eyes of a person he spent every day with?

They were supposed to be friends, teammates. They depended upon each other, they trusted each other with their lives, and they were supposed to be able to read one another like an open book. How could Aya not read the pages Ken so clearly held before him, dusted with dry tears, and tears still to be shed? Ken had with the last of himself offered all of what he had to the silent figure so cold, only to be shut and put away upon the bookshelf like something not worth reading. Not seeing the adventure that lay inside its frail pages, the extraordinary journey it promised in its busied and battered confines.

"He's not worth it, Ken. He's not worth the pain he's causing you." He could tell him forever, let him listen for an eternity, and he would hear... but his heart would not.

"What are you having Youji-kun?" The Genki voice cascaded over him from his waterfall of thoughts.

"Ne, Omi?"

"On the menu, what are you going to have?" The boy's enthusiastic eyes light preciously in the dim lit room, swallowing him in a pool of innocence. Shaking all thoughts from his head for the moment, he reached for the menu before him, looking with feigned interest. "I don't know Omittichi, why don't you order for me? I'll have whatever you're having." He smiled to the younger boy once again, as the waitress arrived.

"Aya-kun, Ken-kun, are you ready to order?"

"Hn," Aya's typical reply was followed with a short nod of his head.

"Ken-kun?" Turning to the saddened brunette, Omi frowned. Ken had slumped over in his seat, using the table as a prop he had laid his upper arm across the table, resting his head in the palm of his hand, leaving his eyes hidden from sight behind locks of chocolate strands. "Ken-kun..." He sighed before greeting the solemn waitress at their table's head.

Dinner went by in a dazed silence; the three eating quietly while Ken remained stationary. The brunette had utterly and completely refused to eat, speak or even move for the duration of the meal. As far as he was concerned, he was being held against his will, as if he were some prisoner in medieval times. He hadn't said one word to any of them since he'd been forced into the car.

Omi fingered the food on his plate with his fork, gently playing with it in thought. He wished he knew what was going on with Ken, he wanted to know, he wanted to help. But the older male was pulling away, and secluding himself, and it hurt to see him in such pain. But what was it that was causing his friend so much pain?

"Okay, chibi?" Youji asked, between finished bits of pasta.

"Huh? Yeah." Omi smiled.

The rest of the meal Youji chatted on meaningless subjects with Omi, with a nod or shake from Aya every once in a while. When they had finished, Aya stayed behind to pay the bill sending the others to wait in the car for him. He joined them ten minutes later, which seemed rather odd to Omi. The line didn't seem busy at the checkout, in fact if he recalled correctly, there hadn't been anyone there. Odder, Aya carried with him a white to go bag at his side; he didn't think Aya had left enough leftovers to bring back with him. He shrugged the thoughts from his mind. Aya was Aya, there was no sense in questioning him, the most you would get from him was an 'hn' and a cold stare.

Like the meal, the ride home was left in silence, save for the soft melody's Youji played from the radio. Once home, Ken exited the car and made his way across the garage into the building. Omi watched him in helplessness.

"Well, I think I'm going to hit the sack for the night. Goodnight all, it has been a most lovely evening I must say. We must do it again." Youji's little snickering turned into a large yawn once within the building.

"I think I'm going to hit the sack too, Goodnight Aya-kun." Waving in the darkness Omi left Aya to follow Youji up to their floor level.

"Goodnight." He waited for the fall of their footsteps to become silent and the clicking of doors to sound before he went off in his search. Noting the faint sound of conversation leaking from the living quarters, Aya followed it, noting too the soft flickers of gray light that fell into the hall.

Ken had made his way into the living room, where he now rested comfortable upon the couch, his eyes fixed to an old soccer game playing within the VCR.

Ken heard the silent footfall of the figure hesitating within the hallway and ignored it, his body tensing slightly. Once the figure decided in his movements, he came forward to him expressionless. With the slightest of hand movements he set the bag he held down gently upon the coffee table before quietly leaving without a word.

Ken pondered for a moment as he eyed the white bag before him. Bold black letters labeled in its folds, tiny beads of sweat forming within its inside walls. His eyes narrowed slightly and he let his feet drop from the propped up position they held upon the coffee table. Leaning forward he reached for the bag, pulling back in hesitation.

What was inside?

This was ridiculous; it wasn't as if it was a bomb. Aya wouldn't do that... would he? A tiny mental picture formed in his minds eye, Aya's not so inviting katana swinging madly in the air as its owner chased him with violent eyes. He twitched and his eyes fell.

Breathing in deeply, he pulled down at the bags corner, finding a large cylinder container left within it. Reaching for the container, he pulled the plastic lid from its top. Steam rose.

Food.

Aya had brought him food.