Chapter 10

Happiness Follows Sorrow

DivineAngel

________________________________________________________________________

The Next Mourning

He opened his eyes to the small white crack outlining the old, thin door they had shut last night. Yohji was curled into him sleeping under the blanket and somehow they had gone from sitting up to slumped over and curled together, but he didn't care. If it kept them both warm, it kept them both out of the cities shelters. Those were worse, and very dangerous. The first time they stepped foot near one, he'd been robbed and Yohji worse. They didn't talk about that anymore. "Yohji." He nudged the blonde slightly. "Yohji." He spoke a bit louder and Yohji shift, opening one eye and sighing.

"One day when I wake up Ken." Yohji muttered licking his lips slowly. "Your going to be a beautiful woman."

He snort, wiggling out from under the part of Yohji draped over him. "Yeah right, and one day when I wake up you'll be a bag of money and I'll have it made." He mumbled pushing the thin door back open before squeezing out.

"You'd trade me for money?" Yohji asked making a face, but not making a move to get up as he took a look around before walking over to the alley wall and unzipped his fly. "Ken?"

"No but I sure do wish I had a bag of money." He answered, a Yohji started to get up, amd once on his feet he rolled the blanket back up and slipped it into his puffy coat. All in the time it took him to take a piss.

"Ok then." Yohji gave him a smile as he zipped his fly back up. "I'll wish for two girls. One for you and one for me." Yohji said starting for the street.

"Hahah!" He laughed following. "Lets see if we can find a diner to break into and get to a sink." He suggested as Yohji gave him a skeptical grunt that left him sighing.

"Your hair could use washing." Yohji mumbled.

He made a face. "And *you* could use a shower, but you don't hear me bitching." He retort as Yohji started walking and he followed. "Some things I would like are…a toothbrush, soap, bed, coffee, some of those cream saver candies, one of those beach chairs so I could lounge anywhere…." He trailed and Yohji gave him a lop sided grin.

"Piss and moan Ken, just keep it up." Yohji shoved him slightly and he chuckled. "Come on we'll check out Mary's again. Maybe she's got something for us."

He frowned following Yohji down a busted commercial street. "Are you kidding. She always had a soft spot for Louis, she's not going to give us shit with him needing money." He spit sourly but Yohji ignored him and kept walking to the alley entrance of the run down pizza shop before knocking.

With only three knocks the door opened and Louise frowned at them. "Fuck off guys, I got this place." (SLAM) The door slammed in their faces before they even have a chance to answer the annoying shit in a pizza uniform.

Yohji growled kicking the door with frustration. "One of these days Louis! I am going to kick your ass!" Yohji yelled to the kid.

He simply grunt at the door before turning back towards the alley, he saw this *all* coming. "Alright. Mary's done…Clarissa…done, Joe…done…What.. What do we have?" he asked, his mind said they were out of options. His only option now was Yohji, hopefully the blonde knew something he didn't.

Yohji didn't look that promising though. The guy just sighed heavily, and looked around while drawing to a conclusion before spitting a firm. "We stroll."

"What!?" He kicked an empty tattered box aside with his foot. "Hell no. We do *not* stroll. We'll get nothing that way." He frowned.

"Ken shut up. Everything here's booked. We have to find something new and we gotta do it fast." Yohji spit quickly. "Now we stroll, then we'll…go back to the Ritz sleep there. Check out our cash flow and consider a winter investment." Yohji mused looking stressed, and talking while digging through his heavy pockets for some food before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

"What kind of winter investment?" He asked non-too-thrilled as Yohji took a drag before handing the cigarette to him.

"The kind we can sleep in." The blonde said with a winked as he started for the street again.

"You mean like a tent?" He frowned, exhaling into the alley before turning back to the Yohji's nodding.

"Yeah. Like a tent only…something stronger. Like an old camper." Yohji nodded heading down the street into the residential section. They'd have to pass through that in order to get to the bridge and across town. He was still frowning though, strolling was never good. It meant the possibility of running into danger, exerting a bunch of energy walking, and having no food to refill it later when it was cold.

"Come on. Lets cross here at the trail." He suggested and Yohji nodded turning towards the apartment buildings and small strip of trampled road that separated it from the small house on about two acres of rotting land. He watched the house as they kept walking, before groaning as one of the windows opened and the old woman's head came out. "Heads up Yohji."

Yohji looked towards the house and groaned just as the woman started yelling. "You boys there! Get off my land! Get off before I call the police! I'll call them!"

"Aw come on Mrs. Becker! We're just passing through!" He yelled waving the old woman back in before ignoring her threats as they crossed. She never did call the police, no matter how many times they and everyone else cut through her land.

"Ken I have been thinking. An old trailer would be…really good, and we'll set it up. Right on the edge of Mrs. Beckers property." Yohji chuckled. "Cops can't toe it, she won't notice because she's half blind and we'll have it made." Yohji exclaimed quietly and he nodded. That sounded good. Considering, they could find someplace they could hit for work under the table, or get food from.

____________________________Two Nights Later_____________________________

"Yohji?"

"What." He frowned at the misty breath running through his lips into the night. It was so cold. His body was still shivering squeezed into the Ritz with Yohji for heat.

"I have been thinking." He ignored Yohji's annoyed -have you- as he watched his breath run back into the air and swirl into nothing. "I am cold…and I am hungry."

"Well…" Yohji groaned slightly, shifting further into him for heat. "Plans often…go...a rye Ken." He snorted at the comment. His stomach felt like it was attempting to digest itself. "So we…just have to keep our heads." Yohji just nodded slightly, eyes closed, but neither of them could sleep shivering so.

"Jesus I wish I could take a piss." He felt Yohji's soundless chuckle as the guy grinned. Pissing in this weather meant freezing your dick off, and he had to do that a day ago. After that event he had decided he could hold it for another day. "Think Clarissa will let us use her bathroom?"

Yohji shrugged slightly. "If we go there right before closing she might. Don't want to…get her in trouble." He moved slightly, fidgeting to keep warm but the movement seemed to be annoying Yohji. "Ken listen. We've got to get some more cash."

He nodded. They had looked at their inventory. The stuff buried in the small glass jar, next to that certain tree in the public park. All they had was three hundred dollars, a ring Yohji had lifted, and the small scrap of paper with Omi's address on it. Fifty of the dollars were a recent addition for a hot TV they had both lifted, and he felt bad for that, but hell he needed to live. "I know."

"The camper we need is practically four hundred."

"We're getting ripped off." He scowled.

"I know." Yohji frowned. A guy across town was willing to sell them his busted up camper for four…it was overpriced but they couldn't do better. "That ass hole should just give it to us for free." He shivered, as Yohji moved for a second. "We need to make cash fast….this is taking too long. The weathers going to get bad." Yohji's muttered to himself and he frowned with the guys tone. It sounded so lost and depressed, not one he heard often. He slowly slid his arm around the huddled body, nodding it would be ok and Yohji grinned. "What is this? Sympathy?"

He nodded. "For the both of us." He grinned. "I am hugging myself with my other arm."

"Hahah!" Yohji chocked a fast laugh before sighing heavily and just leaning into him for heat. He could feel a head ache coming from having his muscles so tense. He couldn't remember things being this bad before he had been picked up and put into Weiss. Then again, he'd never been out on the streets for a winter. Yohji had, and he could see the stress getting tighter in those green eyes every day. "Ken."

"What." He groaned.

"Tomorrow. We're going to take a stroll, to someplace I know." He turned to the blonde with a small frown. Yohji didn't really talk about places he used to know. "You'll hate me for it but….if we don't get something soon…we'll freeze to death, and I am not joking." He frowned with the fast stress that statement caused him. It was bearing down on his shoulders like a weight, pure panic. He knew Yohji wasn't joking it was twenty something degrees out now. Making it through nights like this was tough, they couldn't do it often and especially with so little food. "We'll make money, and we'll make it fast."

"Yohji." He frowned at the tone, because it sounded as though Yohji were almost begging him. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what I am talking about damnt." Yohji scowled. "Why would you make me say it." Yohji hissed turning to him with a frown, which made his expression only sink. There was a silence then, when they locked eyes quietly before Yohji snorted at him and turned away. "You know god damn well what I am talking about."

"Ok." He nodded slightly, patting what he could feel of Yohji through the coat. "It's ok. We'll take a stroll. Don't feel bad." He muttered giving Yohji a smile when the guys eyes simply cast down, as though ashamed for suggesting what he had. "We'll make it fine ok. You just…lead the way. I don't have a lot of practice in that section." He admit, and Yohji was quiet for a moment before giving the smallest nod and smiling ever so slightly as he pat him again.. It would be ok. Somehow, it would be ok.

_______________________________________________________________________

"Stand still." He frowned taking a step back. "No. Ken. Stand still. Do it. Stand still." He stopped moving as Yohji gave him a soft smile before heading towards the entrance of the alley and looking around. Leaving him shifting around uneasily inside it before calling back. "Are you braced!?"

"Yeah! I am braced! Just hurry up!" He growled watching Yohji grab some guy walking by and start talking. He frowned, geez couldn't Yohji pick someone better. This guy looked like a royal freak. He must have been wearing eye liner to have his eyes so dark, and his hair was all spiking up like the guy had pulled the hell out of it to get it that high. "Ken this is…Ja-Jamie?" Yohji said as they both walked over and the guy nodded looking him over and he shifted slightly. "Ok Jamie this is my friend-brother, he needs to learn to be a…better kisser. So you get a freebee if you can help him." He grimaced as the guy smiled at them like they were kidding.

"Funny." The guy grunt.

Yohji cracked a sly grin. "Think I am joking?" He watched the guys smile fade as Yohji just stood there smiling before the guy turned back to him more seriously. As though he were now considering this and Jamie's eyes ran up and down his body again.

"Why don't you practice on each other?" Jamie asked, but they both instantly made a face.

"What the fucks the matter with you?" Yohji shoved the guy slightly. "He's my brother you fuck head. That's incest, now you want to taste him or not?"

The guy quickly held up his hands apologetically. "It's cool guys. Cool, I just missed the resemblance." Jamie reassured and he felt his muscles tensing up as the guy took a step forward and gently took his hand. He sent Yohji an uneasy glance and the blonde came right at him.

"Ok Ken just…relax" He leaned away as the guy went right for his mouth. Jumping as Yohji grabbed the back of his neck and held him still. Grabbing his arm as he went to squirm when the guy started kissing him gently. His face trying hard not to grimace as the male lips gently licked his softly before asking toenter. Yohji elbowed him and he opened his mouth the slightest bit.

"Ah." He yanked back, pushing the guy off when the tongue came inside.

"He's new at this." Yohji reassured Jamie's insulted frown immediately. "Ken you ok?" Yohji turned to him, watching him wipe his mouth as he nodded.

"Yeah. Sorry." He quickly apologized, but Jamie looked fine again. Ready to get back on him as he walked over and steadied himself.

"Do you mind if I ah--" Yohji grinned patting Jamie's shoulder slightly. "Talk? Give directions while your...working?" Jamie smiled, he obviously thought this was one of the funniest things he had run into all day, and getting it for free was even better. Yohji nodded at the -not at all- before walking behind him. "Stay relaxed Ken. You want to make yourself stand out so, this time when he goes to kiss you. Kiss him first."

"What!?" He threw Yohji an -Are you Crazy!?- expression but the green eyes just nodded completely serious. He turned back to the guy and licked his lips slightly.

"Good." He felt Yohji nod behind him as he kissed the guy instead. Yohji's hands gently pushing him forward until he was almost up against the guy. "Push your hips into him Ken." He shook his head slightly and Yohji gave his butt a shove forward. The guy liked it, and in a second his hands ran back to his butt and squeezed. He squirmed immediately but Yohji gently grabbed his shoulders, reassuring him. "Easy Ken. Kissing is great but, lap dances are more. Do you think you can do that?" He gave Yohji his middle finger immediately. "Ok then. Don't worry about it, we'll stick with Kissing." Yohji quickly reassured. "There has to be something we can get them to like about you." Yohji sighed.

The guy pulled away immediately. "I like the way he tastes." Jamie smiled at Yohji as he wiped his mouth. He felt sick. "I'll give you fifty if you let me really taste him."

"What?" Yohji made face and he froze. "I am not pimping him! What the fuck do you think this is! I just said he was my brother!" The guy held up his hands again, apologizing with a smile this time. He just glared, he didn't need to scream anything. He knew exactly where he stood with Yohji, and Yohji would never pimp him for any amount.

"Ok, it's cool guys." Jamie grinned, gently looping a finger into Yohji shirt and leaning towards the blonde. Smiling at him before gently whispering into his ear. He watched Yohji look to the side as he listened, his face slowly starting to grimace before sighing hard and heavy. Looking up as the guy finished and backed.

"Fuck." Yohji growled looking down, wiping some dirt off his face with the sleeve of his coat. "How much?"

"Fifty."

"Fuck you how much?" Yohji gave the guy a look, watching him consider him. Glancing over the blonde before turning to him and looking him up and down.

"I'll give you a hundred if he comes too."

"No." Yohji instantly shook no, shoving him aside and stepping forward. "Sixty for me, he's not coming."

"Yohji." He grabbed Yohji's arm but the blonde shoved him off without a second glance.

"No." Jamie made a face. "I said fifty for you, one for you both." Yohji shook his head, and Jamie started for the alley entrance again while Yohji's face tensed because he knew he needed the money.

"Yohji let him go." He ran a hand onto Yohji's shoulder as the blonde watched his money walk away. "Just let it go." He nodded softly, and Yohji turned to him with a smile. Truly thankful he cared enough to turn away the money they needed to stay warm.

"Ok fine!" Jamie exclaimed and the both turned to his outburst as he turned around in the allay entrance with a bit of a frown. "I'll give you sixty!" He called in.

He frowned, but Yohji looked ready to accept whatever it was the guy wanted. "Ken." Yohji turned to him. "We need the money."

"No. We'll get it another way." He shook his head, grabbing Yohji's shoulders with more strength. He couldn't even stand Jamie's tongue in his mouth. He could only imagine what he might want Yohji for. "Yohji." He shook his head, but Yohji glanced over to the guy.

"How?" Yohji said seriously.

"What?" he asked baffled

"How will we get the money? How?" Yohji demanded, preying he would give him an option, but his mouth dropped open slightly, gapping for a way. Anyway! Working, looting…ah…ah…he couldn't think of anything! "That's what I thought." Yohji's face fell, looking down as he beaconed Jamie over. "…Go watch the front of the alley. Don't let anyone come in." He frowned, watching Yohji swallow with his direction. "But if someone does. A few guys, if they get past you, and I say run. You do it."

"Hell no." He shook his head frowning. No way he would run and leave Yohji.

"Ken." Yohji grabbed his arm and the back of his neck. Holding him sternly as the green eyes glared at him. "You *run* if I ever say to. Do you understand me?" He said nothing and Yohji shook him slightly.

"Yes. I understand." He nodded reluctantly, watching Yohji's eyes close with a heavy sigh.

"Good. Now…now tell me you won't think any less of me for what I am going to do, so I can do this." Yohji whispered, almost begging him and he swallowed. Waiting for the green eyes to look up when he said nothing, and they did.

"Never Yohji." He muttered and Yohij's face instantly looked hurt. "I would never think less of you." He finished smiling a bit and Yohji let him go with a smile as Jamie walked by. Yohji point towards the front of the alley and that's where he went with hands jammed in his pockets, collars turned up watching the street. Not once did he turn around to see what was being done. He didn't want to know.

________________________________________________________________________

"Sir! Sir!" He tried to ignore the yell behind him but it was useless. He took a strong inhale as he turned around to the nurse running after him. "Sir….this is for you." He took the envelop she held and slowly opened it. Looking down at the hospital message and closing his eyes. "Sir. I am sorry but…money's tight here. You're the last room we're increasing but, it's going to be thirty more a night for her. You do understand." The nurse sympathized.

He shook his head slowly. Accidentally crumpling part of the letter as he closed his fist. "I don't have this kind of money." He muttered opened his eyes for a deep violet plea.

"I am sorry sir. There is nothing I can do about that." the nurse looked truly sorry. 'It's out of my hands." She turned away before he could say more and started back to work. She didn't want to hear any desperate begging. That he couldn't afford to take his sister to a home he didn't really have. He didn't know how to properly care for her, but her room was becoming more and more expensive. On his own, more of his money went to supporting her than it did to supporting him. He ate less now, slept in worse districts, and took worse jobs.

He crumpled the letter and jammed it into his pocket before quickly starting out back outside. The weather was cold. It was almost winter, and it would be a harsh one this year. He pulled his coat closer to his body and started down the street in the frigid air. He couldn't afford a car, so he walked. Calmly keeping his eyes to the ground as he thought. How the hell was he going to pay those bills. He'd have to pick up another job. Have to…have to take on something! He stopped walking as an expensive black car slowly drove by him. His own face, and squinting untrusting expression reflected back at him from its tinted windows. He watched it pull up to the corner and stop with his untrusting frown glaring ahead, his eyes squinting a bit as one window rolled half way down.

_____________________________________________________________________

"Hey move over!" He stumbled as the boys bumped into him. His arms instinctively clutched his books to him tighter but they ripped them away anyway. "Oops!" The boy yelled throwing them to the ground and laughing as his paper scattered. "I think you dropped your books Omi."

He turned to them, glaring daggers but he said nothing. "Have something to say?" His room mate smiled at him.

"Fuck off." He spit and the boys were quiet for a moment. A little surprised with the power and hate of his words, never mind the fact he actually said them.

"What did you just say to me Omi?" His roommate shoved him back a step, the small posse surrounding him. His eyes ducked down, running around him instantly, counting numbers in his head. How many were there, who would attack first, what he should do. "Huh!? Omi!" He was shoved again but this time, he instinctively snapped his hand up to the boys wrist pulled it out and kicked the body back. Like he had figured the one behind him was the first to act, because he though he had the advantage, but he took care of that. Quickly swinging his leg back and kicking the kid in the stomach. In the blink of an eye, he took out another two with quick moves and efficient training. Stopping as the remaining three kids backed up. It was then his eyes widened and his mouth fell open. Oh my god. What did he just do?

________________________________________________________________________

"Hmm? Do you?" His eyes imbedded themselves in his lap. "Mr. Tsukiyono. I said. Do. You. Have. Anything. To Say. For. Yourself?"

"I am sorry. It was an accident Sister Mary." He looked up to the short, pudgy forty year old nun with a pleading tone. "They were-"

"-Those boys were doing nothing Mr. Tsukiyono. Children in the hall said it was You who attacked Them." He shook his head immediately.

"That's not true! They always hound me! I was acting in self defense." He pleaded, but she only frowned. "Please I have…I have never-well I! I-I...I am sorry. I am really sorry." She looked unconvinced and even annoyed with his apologies.

"What class were you headed to Mr. Tsukiyono." He felt liquid fear run into his veins with her question. She was going to punish him. No. He shook his head quickly. "What class." She repeated frowning.

"Please." he shook his head again, leaning back in his chair as she stood up and started around to him. "I never fight! I try never to cause any problems! It's not my fault I get in trouble so often! I really just want to be a good student! Ow!" She grabbed his ear and yanked him up.

"Mr. Tsukiyono! If you do not tell me what class you were heading to *this!* *instant!* You will find yourself in even more trouble then you are in now! Do you understand me young man!?" He nodded immediately, struggling to keep the tears of stress and concern from his eyes as she nodded. "Now. What class."

"MmmHistory." She nodded turning towards the door and dragging him along by his ear. "But this was an accident! Please Sister Mary! I-"

"-Not one more word from you Mr. Tsukiyono. I've heard quite enough. I am far to sick of seeing you in my office Mr. Tsukiyono. You're a horrible influence on your peers and you just can't seem to get these rules through your head can you." She huffed up to him as he grit his teeth. His ear was burning with her pinching and continuous pulling. His thin form quickly following her down the hall to his history class and trembling slightly as she quickly opened the door and walked in. The nun inside teaching stopped dead with surprise and looked to them, as did thee entire class who's eyes he felt all over his body. "I am so sorry for interrupting your classroom Sister Janet but, it appears your student here got himself into quite a bit of trouble in the hall." Sister Mary huffed, and Sister Janet nodded with thee apology before looking to him with no surprise. His face flushed red with the smug students watching him with suppressed snickers. "Mr. Tsukiyono here would like to apologize for being late, for disrupting the school hallways, *and* for breaking one of the school rules." Sister Mary dropped his ear and shoved him forward. Watching him stumble ahead towards the rows of desks where his classmates sat grinning at him. "We're all waiting Mr. Tsukiyono." She spoke loudly.

He swallowed hard, preying his voice would work as he took a deep breath. "I-I would like to…apologize for…holding up the class…today…and for….disrupting the school hallways and traffic…as well as…f-fighting on school grounds, and breaking the school rules." He stopped quickly making sure he covered everything. He had, timidly he turned back to Sister Mary who still looked annoyed next to Sister Janet who was calmly waiting for him to finish. Oh god, his mind yelled and he felt his blood run cold again as he caught sight of the cane Sister Mary held.

"Good." Sister Mary grunt. Mr. Tsukiyono would also like to volunteer himself to stay after and clean your room for a week Sister Janet. Isn't that right Mr. Tsukiyono?" he nodded quickly watching Sister Mary again apologize to Sister Janet before turning back to him. "It appears Mr. Tsukiyono Sister Janet is willing to vouch for your normally good behavior in her class." Sister Mary informed him almost scoffing. "You should be grateful she has waved her right to properly punish you." he swallowed hard, glancing at Sister Janet who sent him a very soft reassuring smile. She…She wasn't going to…punish him? It was almost to good to be true, he would be ok! He wouldn't have to suffer the indignity of a hard canning in front of his class. He was *so* grateful *So*so* Grateful. "However." His eyes snapped back to Sister Mary when she spoke again. "That will not save you from my disappointment." He went rigid again, he wasn't saved after all. Her eyes glancing around, probably looking for something to bend him over, but since this was history where they all learned through text books and oral discussions there was nothing. "Well Mr. Tsukiyono bare that bottom your so good at hiding and take hold of your ankles." He was still for a moment as she shift the cane in her hand. How could she do this to him? Didn't she know how awful it was? That his heart was pounding so hard he thought he might die. That everyone in this class would spread the word as soon as they reached the halls. He would just be teased and shoved all the more after this.

Sister Mary's eyes flicked up at him as he failed to move. "Now." She ordered her tone stern and demanding, and he slowly started undoing his pants, before turning to face his class as he shift them down just enough, hardly enough, before bending forward and grabbing his ankles. Closing his eyes to keep from crying with just the position, never mind the fact he was going to have to keep his tongue while being hit or suffer worse student prosecution. Then they'd all be taking a swat at him in the hall, just to see if they could make him cry.

He swallowed as he felt the stiff cane run up against him before swiftly leaving (crack) His jumped, his hands clenching, holding himself still as he heard the cane come back. (crack!) He grit his teeth, no. No he couldn't make a noise. If he was ever going to (Crack) be an assassin at ALL! He couldn't make a noise! (Crack!) Ahh God that one hurt! The stinging was building, he could feel the heat in his skin. If she went over six, he didn't know, didn't want to think about it! He didn't think he could keep quiet if he went over six! (CRACK!) He jumped out of his skin with the hard blow that took all her strength. It's sting was worse than the first four! "I hope I don't see you in my office again soon Mr. Tsukiyono." Sister Mary suddenly spoke. Oh god, she was backing up. He sighed hard, relaxing his grip as Sister Mary put the cane back down. "Stand up Mr. Tsukiyono, and put that little blossom your blooming back in your pants." He quickly stood, ripping his pants up before turning around. His eyes embedded on the floor because they were filled with tears.

This was just like old times, just like all the times he hated. The way he was harassed and constantly made late for class by the kids who would throw his books and steal his homework. It was far too often he was bending over things for such humiliation! He could hardly stand it! His classmates despised him for being younger and smarter than they were. Made fun of him for living there all year round, and for basically everything else he did. Everywhere he went their glaring eyes were on him, watching for a mistake they could worsen or cause and get a good laugh. Watch him take punishment with wide smiles, they rolled in it. Loved it when he got it again and again. It made it so hard to take, at least with Mr. Brine he knew the man didn't hold it against him in anyway. At least there he was on almost the same level as the other guys. Still, it was still hard to handle with all this. When Mr. Brine would tell him it was his turn, every time he was waiting for Aya, Ken and Yohji to finally turn their backs on him and start laughing like everyone here after his butt was red. Every time. Now, the fact that they didn't was such a tease. That flower shop had been the only place that had never happened. The only place he had been remotely accepted…he never wanted to go back there again.

Sister Janet calmly watched Sister Mary go before turning to him. Watching his wet eyes slowly look up, his face horribly red. More than anything he'd just like to bolt from this class room, from this school and never look back.

"Omi." He sniffled as the soft young voice as Sister Janet walked over to him. Slowly handing him two text books. "You have my permission to take leave to the bathroom, then quickly come back and hold these in the hallway." she directed and he grimaced a fast nod, before quickly starting for the door. The moment it was shut behind him he heard the class room break into hysteria with Sister Janet yelling for everyone to calm down.

He bolted for the bathroom.

Shoving in the door and after taking a second glancing around to make sure no one was there he heaved the books at the wall. "Ahh!" He screamed as he threw his body into the action. Watching the books hit and fall crumpled with satisfaction. His chest was heaving as he took a step to the sink and shakily turned on the water. Desperately tying to keep himself under control while slowly smearing the tears from his face and gently rubbing his warm skin.

With a shaky hand he ripped the small orange medical container from his pocket and popped one of his pills into his mouth before washing it down with one of the paper cups provided. With a deep breath he let his hand play under the faucet before gently splashing some up to his face while staring at the mirror. His own shaky breathing and features stared back at him. He grit his teeth, watching his reflection imitate as the features there twisted with disgust before disappearing as he slammed the mirror with his first. "Ahh!" He screamed hitting the glass until it cracked, so he couldn't see himself anymore before glaring at the shards that fell into the sink and examining the small cut on his hand before sniffling. Wiping some of the tears from his eyes, picked up the two books he had thrown, and leaving. He walked back to the wall outside his classroom and quickly held a text book in each palm as he extended his arms to either side of him. Casting his eyes to the floor ashamed, as he waited for the class to end. His body backing into the wall slightly, trying to retaliate into something as he stood there. Like a spectacle with a pink nose. The stupid fight wasn't even his fault, he didn't even mean to fight back it had just happened. God he was an idiot. He jammed his eyes closed, wishing as hard as he could, he could be gone from this world.

_____________________________________________________________________

He started walking faster. Looping his arm into Ken's and pulling. "Come on Ken." He glanced over his shoulder to the car fallowing him. The police it had to be. "Shit. Ken don't attract any attention."

"Ahhaa." Ken just chocked a sob and he pulled the brunette closer. Quickly reaching up to his own face and wiping some of the tears off before picking up his pace. He never let go of Ken, and so both of them were heading to the small familiar allay and side door before he turned to the brunette.

"Ken look at me. Come on." He ordered gently pulling Ken's chin to him and forcing Ken's thin face and crying eyes to look up to him. "You're ok. Are you hurt? Are you bleeding?" He whispered, and when Ken shook his head he let out a heavy relieved sigh. Ken only sniffled a bit before slowly running a hand onto his shoulder and he mustered the best smile he could. "I am ok." He reassured. "I am fine." He reassured again fighting to keep the smile on his face before moving and pounding on the door slightly. "Clarissa! It's us! Please! Open up!" He yelled before waiting through the minute of silence before her answer yelled out to them.

"No! Fuck off Yohji! I don't have any work!"

"Aaaa." Ken groaned a bit through his silent crying and his hand clenched on the locked doorknob. Even he was shaking a bit still, he was just Totally Freaked out by what happened!

"Clarissa. If you ever open this door again bebe. Let it be tonight. Come on. For me. Open this door. I need you now. We need you. Clarissa!" He yelled before backing up as he heard the door unlocking.

"You guys have just about!-" Clarissa stopped dead when she caught sight of Ken crying. "Jesus, what happened." She spit quickly grabbing his arm and pulling him in as he tugged Ken along with him. She quickly shut and locked the door behind them before turning to them concerned. "What happened!?"

He frowned as she yelled at them. Ken just sunk into a chair, and he crouched down in front of him. Trying to make sure he wasn't seriously hurt while Ken was in its -I am not talking- mood. "Ken? Ken come on. Ken look at me. Just talk to me." He asked quietly.

"God damnt Yohji! I said What Happened! How can you keep me in suspense!?" Clarissa yelled.

"What happened, what happened." He imitated. "What's it look like!? We got jumped!" He yelled back stressed.

"Wearing that." She snorted at their dirty outfits before silencing as he gave her a look. "What side of town were you on?" She asked squinting at him.

"Just…Just eave it alone." He said giving her a stern look as he stood up, pulling his coat off and dropping it to the floor before opening his shirt. She swore the second she saw the blood on him and left to get something. "Just drop it Clarissa ok! I don't need any questions right now!"

"The wrong side! That's what side of town you were on!" she yelled coming back. "The wrong one!" She yelled pointing a finger at him.

"What are you talking about!?" He growled slamming some of the counter contains aside and easing back onto it. "This IS the wrong side of town!"

"Yeah well, you know what I am talking about! You were in the dirty section! Weren't you. Weren't you!?" She scolded as he said nothing before cringing as she pressed some antiseptic to his chest. "You go down there, try to make some cash and then get all worked up when it gets out of hand. Well What Did You EXPECT!" she screamed. "That's the side you was on! That's the game you were trying to Play! I know You Yohji! Now Your dragging Ken down too! Both of you Idiots!"

"Just DROP IT!" He screamed at her concerned figure, but she only grunt disgusted and threw the small cloth at him. Moving to Ken and tugging him up before unzipping his coat and examining his open shirt for blood.

"So what happened to you." She asked Ken, but he answered instead.

"I said we were jumped didn't I." He sighed gently rubbing some of the dirt from his wound with the stinging antiseptic.

"Jumped, what the hell are you talking about jumped. Everyone in this fucking district gets jumped Yohji! What do you mean! Were you robbed! Huh!?" He nodded. "What'd they get?'

"Few dollars. Some food. Cigarettes." She made a face, gently pulling Ken's shirt over his head because it was filthy. Ken had silenced and was now just standing still for her. "Nothing important." He said

"No matter what nobody said to you Ken, you don't listen." She muttered softly watching Ken's strong brown eyes look up at her understanding tone. She smiled gently, running a hand up into his hair before smiling as he hugged her immediately.

"Are you ok?" He asked giving Ken a grin and the guy nodded. Watching Clarissa take a step back and head to the back rooms most likely for some food. "Hey! Clare! Bring him some ice for his nuts would you!" He heard her groan from the back room as he slung an arm around Ken's neck and roughed it slightly. The brown eyes turn to him, a little ashamed they had been crying and he grunt. "Ken. Don't even." He grinned right away, trying to reassure that look. "I would never think less of you, besides….this wasn't even your fault.'

Ken smiled slightly. "Thanks." Ken mumbled before t hey both jumped with the loud sudden banging on the front restaurant door and Clarissa come out from the back room frowning.

"We're Closed!" She yelled up to the front handing them some warm pizza. As always, a traumatizing situation was reward in good food. Not an equal trade, but a sick plus. The banging continued. "I said We're Closed! Fuck off!" Ken chocked a laugh at Clarissa's annoyance before gently pressing the ice pack to his nuts as he started woofing down the pizza. Suddenly from the banging and yelling they both heard their names, and he spun towards the door wide eyed with Ken..

"Holy shit! It must be that freaky car that was tailing us!" He exclaimed turning to Ken's alert expression.

"What." Clarissa looked mad. "Do I need to call the police? Don't Tell Me You Guys BRoUGHT A Gang Down Here!"

"No." He reassured as Ken shoved the ice pack back at her immediately. "We're getting out of here. Thanks for everything." He said, pecking a quick kiss on her cheek as Ken hugged her. Both of them jamming food into their mouths as they ripped their clothes back on and started for the door. Running out and down the back alley as a few flashlights shown in calling to them. "Fuck! Yohji!" Ken yelled concerned.

"Go!" He yelled shoving Ken forward as they reached the chain link fence at the end. Both of them quickly lopping their fingers into the holes and dragging themselves up as fast as they could.

"Boys!" They both stopped death with the yell because they knew that voice. "Boys! It's alright!" the voice yelled, but warning bells went off in his head. Impossible. That's what it was impossible.

"He was a Cop." he snarled mad, his hands reaching up to continue climbing before stopping with the third yell. The voice was coming towards them down the alley and he dropped from the fence. Ken dropped too and spun around with wide eyes. He wanted to see the man again, if for anything than to say goodbye in some way. Someway he wasn't able to do last time.

He wasn't so willing to submit though. "Your a cop!" he screamed, quickly picking up a bottle for defense as Mr. Brine came closer. Hands out towards them, smiling happy to see them.

"No. Never was. I just…I just wanted to know if you'd come with me." Mr. Brine asked and he shook his head immediately. "You don't mean that Kudou." Mr. Brine contradicted.

"I do." He sneered. "Now Why don't you Fuck OFF! Like last time! Take your games and Shove them up your ass!" He yelled and Ken said nothing because in a way the guy agreed with him. Mr. Brine on the other hand only smiled softly before gently lowering his hands to his sides. He wasn't threatened by them.

"I've missed you both."

___________________________________________________________________

"Mr. Tsukiyono, please report to the main office." He cringed, walking faster as they called his name again. He could only get there so fast! Why did they have to keep calling it! He quickly started down the stairs, grabbing the railing as someone tried to trip him, and just continuously going. He didn't look back to see who it was. He just kept going. Quickly down the stairs, through the next hall where he was shoved and to the office.

Watching the nun look up at him and smile. "You can go right in Mr. Tsukiyono." He nodded and started for the principals door. What could they possibly want!? He slowly turned the knob and opened the door. Looking right to the principal who nodded for him to come in. He opened the door fully and stopped. His mouth dropping open and he took a small step back with what he saw.

"Tsukiyono." Mr. Brine smiled at him, beckoning for him to come but he remained where he was.

"What do you want." His voice was flat and motionless. He wasn't in the mood for games. Not ever again.

Nothing but a soft smile came at him beckoning for him to close the door again, before standing up as he did nothing. Mr. Brine walked towards him ignoring the tears that welled in his eyes as did he. This was the first time he'd seen anyone who knew him in a month. The first time he'd been visited in anyway at the school ever. He shrugged the hand off his shoulder quickly. "What do you want I said." He demanded.

"Just a moment." He looked away from the kind eyes watching him. "Just a moment to talk to you. I have been thinking Tsukiyono. Maybe there is something you can do for me."

________________________________________________________________________

I sigh leaning further back in the chair I am in. Back in the same room I was in a long time ago. When I first got drug into this charade. Yohji's next to me, and Aya's in front of me. I run my hand under my shirt to the healing wound I have on my chest. It stings, and it's likely to get infected against my clothes which aren't really that clean.

"So." Yohji sighs, breaking the ice again. He's slouched into his chair like me. Dead tired, like me. "You kept up well." He says to Aya.

Aya nods. "Good times…bad times." The red head shrugs but he's still watching me. I must look ridiculous rubbing my own chest but it really stings.

"How'd you aaa.." I trail sitting up a little. "How'd you make money?"

Aya shrugs again. "I got around, took a lot of jobs. I don't have anything if that's what your asking."

I shake my head and Yohji does the same. "Not a chance in your life Aya." Yohji grins at the red head. "Ken and I make our own way. We have ever since we got out of this shit, and we'll keep it up."

Aya snorts. "Yeah you look it." I give the guy a scowl and the violet eyes ease slightly. "So where'd you stay?"

"The Ritz." I smile, but Aya looks more than skeptical. "How about you? Where'd you stay?"

"Here and there." Aya is vague.

Yohji nods. "Anywhere recommendable?"

Aya shakes his head. "No."

"Did you…ever have to stay at the shelters?" Aya's quiet for a moment, before raising a finger. Once…not so bad.

"Did you?"

"No." Yohji quickly spits

"Yes." I answer casually and then glance at Yohji with his conflicting answer, so does Aya. The blonde just shifts slightly uncomfortably and looks away. "Can we…"

"Let's change the subject." Aya suggests sensing Yohji's discomfort and leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "Though I really don't know what we should be talking about. I thought they didn't want us. Thought they said they had their winning team." Aya says bitterly and Yohji's starting to look annoyed with Aya's words. Truthfully we're all pissed about this. First they take us in, then they throw us out….now they want us back? "Pisses me off."

"Well." Yohji grins, shoving my hand to the side of the chair as I try to play with my wound again. "We're definitely pissed." I glance at the door when I hear a small click, but it's perfectly still. I can't help but wonder, if they went to the trouble to actually *find* Yohji and I….and they actually went and got Aya. Would they get Omi too? If they tell us, he was to young, or to weak or something….and their not going to go get him. I am a little undecided what I'll do. I already know I'll be pissed about that, but part of me believes them. He doesn't necessarily have to have this crappy life, he could probably stay in the school and do better than all of us. On the other hand, he hates it there, and I'll miss him.

___________________________________________________________________

They both sigh from where they stand watching the two monitors. One shows the three boys sitting inside the room relaxing. Their conversation scrolling out in text and from a small speaker. The second shows the hallway in front of the room door, where the youngest member just dropped the handle and started leaving after standing there for a moment. "Well." The man sighs

Manx's eyes remain on the monitor. "I guess we could not expect a smooth second introduction." She sighs and the man nods.

"Don't let him get away, as soon as we get him back in with them…..He'll settle." The man reassures.

"I won't." She stands up and heads for the door. Quietly shutting it behind her before swiftly walking downstairs until she passes through one of the monitors the man upstairs is watching. Her skillful green eyes watching the boy up ahead in the hallway keep going straight for the lobby doors and back outside.

She follows, but makes no attempt to make a spectacle of her pace and catch up with him. Instead, when he stops at the corner she continues at her own. The clicking of her high-heels making him turn around to see who's approaching, and she can see the surprise in his face when he spots her. "Hello Omi." She stops next to him, offering a kind smile with her words, but he says nothing. "Will you take a walk with me? I would like to talk to you." She asks but he shakes his head, turning so he no longer faces her but the road they stand next to. "Where is it…you are going Omi?"

"To school." She smiles at the soft but mad tone.

"Your correct in thinking a bus will stop here, but it won't for another half an hour." She says, and he side glances at her. "If you want to go to school, I'll drive you there myself. No one will ever make you stay here Omi. We simply wanted to know….if you would like to."

"You didn't seem to care how much I would have liked to when you….threw me out a month ago." He says giving her a hard squint, he's upset about this. Upset about being here again. "Now you expect me to come back. Thinking it's because I might like it?" He turns away giving her a skeptical, annoyed snort. "Yeah right."

"Omi." She sighs out his name, gently touching his shoulder but he yanks back with a disgusted expression. "Please try to understand. You entered into the contest, knowing full well what would happen if you failed. Nothing was kept from you. You failed. I had nothing to do with that. You can not hold it against me." He grunts again, he obviously plans to. "Take a walk with me Omi. I would feel badly if you left before I got a chance to further explain." He turns to her now, she would feel bad? Since when did the ball-buster feel anything? "Don't look at me so skeptically Omi. I am a human, and I am a woman, and I may just have a soft spot for you." He licks his lips with her kind smile, ducking away as she gently touches his cheek. "You're a good person Omi. All of you are good people. If I had, had my way you would have been the winning team. Unfortunately for you, it's your good nature that made you loose. You were all too concerned with each other to fight correctly."

"That's impossible. You can't be a team unless your concerned about your teammates." He mutters, his voice a bit unstable but doing his best to ignore her hand which is gently playing with his cheek before dropping back to her side.

She smiles with his comment. "I know. Ironically your surpasser was better because of just that. They do not share a bond like your team does. They are more…spiteful." He made a face. Spiteful? "But they are…better assassins. At the time that was what we were looking for. Assassins, not support groups. Ironically we need a little of both. That's why we're willing to have another go with you boys Omi." He shook his head slightly. "The others don't know, I haven't told them yet. Please come back inside and join them, they will miss you if you leave."

"No." He snaps yanking away from her immediately. "I don't want to go back. I don't ever want to go back! For what!? So if we fail you can take it from me all over again!?" She watched his chest hitch with his phrase. "You don't know what it's like. You had no idea what it was like! I never though I would see any of them again! I never though I would be here again! All you left me with was…was a life I Hated! And-And an aftertaste to something I-I loved! Who are YOU!?" He screams shoving her away as she takes another step forward. "Just Get Away from me! I don't ever want to see you! Or any of your lies in MY Life Again!" He yells taking a few steps away from her, still hateful expression glaring as she opened her moth to speak. Stopping short as she realized another figure was approaching them. Gently she closes her mouth and watches his little blue eyes glare at her until the figure comesc lose enough to speak.

"Tsukiyono" Omi whirled around with that voice, another shocked expression coming the moment Omi spotted Mr. Brine's strong smile and face. "Come here." The smile widened and a hand beckoned, making the young boy hesitate for a moment before taking the few steps to the man he trusted. "Tsukiyono listen to me." Omi shook his head immediately. "No. Listen to me." Mr. Brine firmed his voice, and the boy was silent. "I need you to go back inside and rejoin your team."

"NO. I don't wa-"

"-Tsukiyono." Omi silenced immediately. "I am asking you to go inside and rejoin your team. You are not a team unless your all together. All three of them, I am taking back with me today. Back to the flower shop. As we speak, everything is being put inside again. The furniture, the dishes, the food. I want to take you with me." The boy's face looked down immediately. Words he never heard were, I want to take you with me. No one ever wanted to take him anywhere. "So…as your couch, and law I suggest you get your ass in that building…and into that room…right now…before I have you cooking dinner for a week." Mr. Brine ordered rather harshly and Omi's blue eyes were slightly wide. Omi glanced over toward Manx, who stood exactly where she had been standing arms crossed over her chest, slight smile playing on her lips. It had been easier to tell her no, because he didn't know or trust her. Mr. Brine was something else, in more ways than one he'd like to be closer to this man and gain more than just trust. He wanted to make the man proud of him, for some stupid reason he couldn't understand. In some far corner of his mind, Mr. Brine had been the closest thing to a father he'd ever gotten, or even seen in real life. "Tsukiyono." His eyes turned back to the smiling voice and face on a dime. "You don't want me to remind you why you boys listen right here in front of Manx do you?" Omi's face tensed a little and the boy froze up. "Haha…" Mr. Brine laughed softly with his bluff before calming. "Tuskiyono…Get MOVING!" Omi took off for the building like Mr. Brine's sudden yell had physically shoved him towards it. His body running for the lobby doors as Mr. Brine laughed behind him.

Mr. Brine side stepped towards Manx as they both watched him rip a door open and run back in. She cleared her throat with a smile and he gave her a grin. "You were watching us on the monitor weren't you?" She asked, sly smile and all.

"I thought you could use a little help, yes." He chuckled as they started back for the lobby themselves. Calm, comfortable walking, they weren't going to make a spectacle of their pace and try to catch up to Bombay who was sprinting back to the room as fast as he could go. "Tsukiyono's really not so hard to handle. It was…Hidaka who showed me how to motivate him. You just have to, push him towards the edge a little." Mr. Brine informed.

"I see." She grunt slightly, watching him open the lobby door with a -Ladies First- before following her in. "I see you plan on taking the other three back already?"

He nodded. "Of course. I'd love to get my hands on them. Hidaka and Kudou are so filthy, I couldn't let them walk back out of here on my own conscious. I am positive I can sell them all back into that car." He reassured and she gave him another sly smile as they stopped outside the door, and Mr. Brine took the handle. "You'll be watching us from the monitor I assume?"

She smiled again. "As always…Mr. Brine." He grinned as she used his code name. "As always."

______________________________________________________________________

Hehe ok now I can't resist being cruel and telling you all that this cshapter was originally a few more pages longer than what I have posted…but! I thought that was Too long for a chapter and made it chapter 11! HEHE J Just think, if I hadn't done that, you could have been reading the next chapter now! Soo…the boys are going home? Or…is this another trick…..find out next Wednesday when I post another chapter! Geez, this is starting to be like a soap opera or something. A chapter every week. Maybe at the end I should do like those corny previews with some excerpts or something. Let me know what you think about that idea!!! It could be a riot.

….

Oh yeah and please remember to review for me!!!

'

'

'

Push the Button!!

'