Good Boys Don't

-Tell -

By: Li'l Amethyst Angel

Summary: When Yuki's mom asks Ken to talk to Yuki about what happened Ken freaks out and gets stuck in a horrible memory. Youji comes to realization of just why that mission affected Ken so much.

Pairings: Ken x Youji hints

Warnings: Child abuse, slight swearing, and angst.

Regular POV

Ken sighed and took a seat on the stool behind the cash register, exhausted. He and Youji had just finished closing the shop. The fan-girls had been especially bad that day. I was about to head upstairs when there was a knock at the entrance of the shop.

"Hm, I guess those girls just couldn't stay away. I do tend to leave pretty, young ladies wanting more." Youji said suggestively. Ken rolled his eyes and took a look at who it was.

"Youji, it's Yuki's mom." Ken said, going to open the door. Her face brightens upon seeing Ken.

"Mr. Hidaka! I've been looking for you." The woman said. Youji raised an eyebrow.

"A woman coming to see you Ken? That's a first." Youji mumbled under his breath.

"Um, how exactly did you know I was here?" Ken asked.

"My friend's daughter is always going on about the 'cute boys who work at the flower shop'. She mentioned your name. I am so grateful to you for returning my Yuki. I don't want to be too forward, but I would really appreciate it if you could take some time to talk to Yuki." Receiving a confused glance from Ken she continued, "Yuki has taken his...kidnapping very hard. I tried to get him to talk to some psychiatrists, but he refuses. He says the only person he will talk to is you, Ken, because you would understand him."

Youji shot Ken an incredulous look. Ken looked back at Youji nervously. He fidgeted a bit, his thoughts racing.

"I really don't think that's a good idea. I could make things worse. I would only mess him up more."

The woman's brows furrowed. "Oh, please, Mr. Hidaka. It would mean so much to Yuki."

"I'm sorry, I really can't-" The woman grabbed onto his arm desperately.

"Please, I wouldn't ask you if I thought there was anything else I can do." The woman begged. Ken took a step back, pulling away his arm. He was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

"Look, I'm sorry, but that's not a good id-" Ken started, only to be cut off by the frantic woman, "Mr. Hidaka he needs to talk to someone. He's in so emotionally pained. Won't you please just try-"

Ken couldn't take it anymore. "Would you just leave me the hell alone?! I said no!" Ken screamed and stormed out, leaving the other two behind stunned.

"I'm sorry, miss. He hasn't been feeling well recently." Youji escorted her to the door and ran after Ken. Ken had been acting strange lately and Youji was going to find out why.

Ken ran up to his room, slamming the door behind him. He dropped to the floor next to the wall and rested his head in his hands. Memories flashed through his mind. He remembered one particularly bad time...

Begin Flashback

The school bell rung, dismissing class, and a nine-year-old Ken packed up ready to leave. Before he could get out the door his teacher called him over to her.

"Ken, I've noticed you've had quite a few bruises lately. Where are they from?" She asked gently. Ken frowned. His dad had been getting sloppy lately. His father had just lost his job and was drinking more. He had started to hit Ken more in the face, leaving angry red marks and bruises visible. Ken wrung his hands nervously.

"O-oh. T-these? I fell down the other day and just yesterday I w-walked into a door. You know me, I'm just clumsy." The teacher frowned. She knew Ken was a very graceful child as she'd seen him play soccer. He was in fact very coordinated.

"Alright. You may go, but remember, if there's ever anything you want to talk about I'm here for you." She sighed and watched as the little boy left. The teacher had noticed Ken's bruises before. Though, he usually wore long-sleeved shirts and pants, she had seen him in a short-sleeved shirt on very hot days. Disgusting yellow, purple, and blue marks littered his little arms, and she could only assume the rest of him. She had heard his response when other teachers asked where they came from. He would always laugh it off and say he was playing too roughly, or that he tripped and fell. Now, this wouldn't be too rare for a child, but there were other things that made her suspicious. Ken was very jumpy and avoided human contact from everyone besides his best friend, Kase, as much as he could. The teacher had never met his father, but his mother seemed bored and annoyed whenever she picked up Ken from school or came in for a parent-teacher interview. Shaking her head sadly, the teacher made her way to the office to talk to the principal and report her suspicions, as she was obligated to do.

That night a young woman from social services came to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Hidaka. Little Ken didn't know who she was, but she seemed like a nice lady. She spoke with him and after a while started asking questions he found strange. She asked if his parents ever hurt him. Little Ken immediately became guarded, eyeing her carefully, and denied. When the woman finally left Ken was confused, but thought nothing of it. He was good, he didn't tell what he wasn't supposed to. He went back to drawing a picture. Moments later his father stormed in.

"What the hell have you been telling people?" He demanded. Ken's brows furrowed. He didn't know what he had done to make his father angry this time.

"Who have you been telling? You know the rules!" His father's strong voice boomed. In the doorway Ken could see his mother staring at him with her arms crossed. Ken's chocolate eyes moved back to his father's face which reddening in anger.

"I-I didn't tell a-anyone. I s-swear." The child stuttered. His father slapped him roughly across the face.

"Don't lie to me, boy!" The cruel man screamed, shoving Ken roughly. Ken let out a cry as his head connected painfully with the wall. His father proceeded to harshly kick Ken in the ribs, showing no mercy and ignoring the child's pleas. When his father finally left, Ken was already about to pass out. His last conscious thought was of why his father hated him so much.

End of Flashback

Youji entered Ken's room, only to find his teammate curled up in a ball in the corner, hugging his legs to his chest, with his head buried in his knees. Youji cautiously approached the trembling figure and put a hand on Ken's shoulder, only to have him flinch away.

"Kenken?" Youji's voice is nothing but a distant echo to Ken, who is lost in dark and confused memories.

Ken thought of the last and most important rule and said it aloud, without realizing he was doing so.

"Good boys don't tell." Youji tried to catch what Ken was saying, but he was too quiet with pants muffling the sound of his voice. He leaned closer. Ken was in a daze, seemingly stuck in a memory. He kept mumbling three sentences repeatedly.

Youji's eyes widened when he finally heard the words Ken spoke, realization slowly dawning on him.

"Oh gods, Kenken." Youji rasped out. He took Ken's prone figure into his arms and held him tightly. All the while Ken continued on with his chant.

"Good boys don't cry. Good boys don't misbehave. And good boys don't ever tell."

To Be Continued

Author's Note: Only one more chapter to go! It took me a little longer to get this fic up. I hope it doesn't disappoint. In chapter one Ken's memories are triggered by the three "rules" Yuki spoke. The fact that Yuki and Ken were taught the same set of rules is purely coincidence (which I needed to make happen for this fic to work). I just wanted to make that clear. Also, in this chapter I mentioned that social services paid a visit to the Hidaka's, but to be honest I don't know if that was accurate. I don't know how such visits progress, so if it was not completely correct, I apologize. Please continue to review, so I know if I should continue.