Disclaimers: -ahem- Weiss nor Ken nor Ran/Aya does not belong to me, but you never know after this life I might... (A girl can dream, can't she?)

Warnings: ###mild points of rape and abuse, if you don't like that then please skip it or don't read thank you (putting on the safe side since I am NOT going to change the rating... I just don't think it's R enough to be placed under that rating... ok, I might, just please tell me so I can change instead of having me banned right away) very much OOCness (especially Aya) and uhm, all those angst warnings stuff. Might be a death fic in the end.

Kuroi, for introducing me to this pairing, thank you.

One More Pose

It was always his smile that captivated me, the way those edges curve to an upward arc, and how those chocolate eyes would sparkle along with it. It was different from Youji's mischievous grin or Omi's genki one, just a small smile that would show his pleasure or happiness over something. The brunette always had that much of an impact on me. Youji and Omi as well, maybe, but Ken... And yet, when those lips curve into a frown, not in an annoyed way but when his lips would tremble, his whole body follows and tears threaten to fall... I couldn't help feeling helpless, yes, Fujimiya Ran had always been helpless, always,

That's why I don't want to love, or be loved... because...

"Aya!"

Ran was interrupted from his angsty thoughts and paused in mid step as he craned his neck to see a tall red haired woman coming out of a white car.

"Manx..." Ran muttered, stashing his katana by his side. The woman made her way towards the redhead, and handed him a piece of paper.

"What's this?" Ran growled as his amethyst eyes ran over the white paper. He wasn't really reading it that much, his thoughts were much too occupied by thoughts of his rebellious comrade.

"I've fixed everything, the four of you have different names to be shown to the public. Now since all that is arranged Kritiker had found a result from our research about the target, he's, or rather, they were going at the photo shoot to get their victims every month, that's by next week. The only problem we have now is-"

"Aya!"

The two redheads turned their head to see a bubbly brown-haired girl make her way towards them. Sakura gave Manx a small frown, and grinned childishly at Ran.

Why do people have to arrive at such a bad time, Ran thought just when I'm utterly worried about-

"Ne, Aya," she chuckles, clinging on to the stoic man's arm. "There's this movie premier of the new romance movie, let's go see it, ne? Onegai!" Sakura murmured looking all Aya-chan like with those big pleading eyes.

Aya-chan...

"Aa, ok..." a small flicker of a smile appeared on the redhead's face. He couldn't resist it, couldn't even say no. It felt like he was saying no to his very own sister. Ran felt a little bad at making Sakura like a makeshift for Aya-chan, but he just can't help feeling that way, after all that was the reason he cared for the girl.

Sakura beamed up at him and started dragging him away, grinning softly as Ran hesitantly followed her, he knew he had something important to do but his mixed up mind can't seem to function properly.

"Wait Aya!" Manx called out to him but the Ran was already several gaps ahead. Not one to cause a commotion her brows furrowed in her trademark frown after the redhead. She shook her head, knowing Aya wouldn't anyway give a damn about Ken's sensitive past to be publicized.

-----

Night had already fallen and Ran was starting to feel both bored and a little annoyed. It wasn't really what they watched; it was the fact that Sakura was window-shopping, and something a guy like Aya would never stand. The movie was sappy and mushy and he doesn't really give a damn about the endless twists and useless separations of the two lead characters. There was only one thing that got stuck in his mind during the duration of the movie, when the lead male had said,

It was always your presence that pleases me. Fate had been the one to bring us together, and yet our past, present and future is tearing us apart. Maybe it would also be fate to decide our destiny. If ever heaven forbid us to be together, then maybe in the next world, we will.

One might think that the ice-prince was finally melting, maybe, maybe not. But one thing was for sure; he had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach, a fluttery feeling when those words were said, and something about infinite chocolate beauty...

"Ne Aya, you seem so distracted today..."

Ran snapped out of his reverie and gave the younger girl a small smile. "Aa, it's nothing" he announced and looked up at the starlit sky.

While they were walking around Ran saw something that caught his eyes. A silver-chained small Yin and Yang necklace that was split in the middle. Suddenly the brunette's voice floated through his mind, something the brunette had revealed during one of his mindless rants and chants that time after they had dinner. The two were on their way back to their apartments and as they passed by a bench where a couple sat Ran couldn't help but see the jealousy in those brown eyes.

They seemed nice, you know, those heart-shaped necklace lovers wear that's torn in half and one carries part of the other. It would be really nice if I could share something like that with someone someday...

Ran felt a flicker of a smile, and before he knew it he had made his way inside the shop, with Sakura blinking back at him as she followed the redhead. Ran pointed at the small necklace and asked how much it was. Sakura looked at the small insignia; curious at whom Ran was giving it to.

"Who is it for?"

"Someone important to me..." Ran muttered after giving the clerk his payment and shoved it to his pocket, sighed and started walking back.

She smiled, thinking that he must have wanted to give the other necklace to his sister. Happily walking besides Ran she sighed and stepped much closer; not knowing the real one the redhead cared about...

Ran was confused, he had spent his precious money on some damn necklace just to please his friend?! He must be going crazy. He could now imagine the soccer player's reaction, mortified, embarrassed or happy. Ran wished for the latter. On second thought, he might never even have the courage to hand it to the brunette. Ran was never a coward, but when it comes to these things... still mortified was better than a frown... when those brown eyes looked sad or helplessly despaired. Frowning himself the redhead fumbled with his coat, and suddenly froze.

His katana. He had his katana with him all that time inside his coat. All of a sudden something crashed to his mind. The redhead felt his heart beat faster as he realized why the damn he had ran all the way out in haste.

Oh God... Ken! His mind screamed and suddenly he turned on his heels and tore away

"Aya!" Sakura, shocked called out to him in fright, but Ran didn't seem to hear.

Kami-sama... what have I done?!

# --- #

He's used to pain... it was part of the whole load he accepted when he accepted to become an assassin. Yet, pain was nothing compared to this. Pain is part of everything... but this... this is suffering...

Chained on rough steel shackles, the sound of the whip going back from its first miss. The shock of it biting into tanned skin, and the knowledge that it was only the first blow, as wave after wave of wave of utter despair threatened to shatter whatever resolve the brunette has left. Ken, shattered, destroyed from the pains. Minutes passed, which seemed like an eternity as rhythmic sounds continued it's damaging.

Click Click

Flashes of light erupted like death strokes, filling the air as lens focused closer and farther from the image of the toned muscular tanned body laid bare chained by the ceiling, with a disgusting hand caressing that beaten figure, stroking roughly against already wounded skin. All of a sudden...

His chastity was ripped away from him, in the cruelest way he could ever imagine. Not just once... nor twice... warm crimson liquid trail down in abundance... breaking inside and out sending screaming agony through his brain through his wounded soul, shattering him inside...

# --- #

Hours turned to days, and Kritiker and the three men still had no news. Their worry was now amounting to a state of shock. Youji never left Koneko, Omi wouldn't eat until forced to, and Ran... Though went unseen he had been the most damaged of the three.

In all honesty, Ran was afraid. For the first time in several years, icy Aya felt an indescribable surge of fear... fear of not being able to say to the person you love what you truly feel before that person is gone for good and you can't do anything about it anymore. He didn't really believe it would ever happen, because he thought he lost too much to loose some more, but fate was cruel to him.

It was only two days after Ken went missing did the three had a clue on the brunette's whereabouts.

"AYA!!!"

Ran's head whipped up from cooking in the kitchen as his name was screamed. Crashing to the room came Youji, followed by Omi who has a confused and tired look on his once genki face. Ran's brows furrowed, Youji's face was white and the lanky blonde was shaking in rage. The redhead raised an eyebrow at Youji, who shoved an envelope on Ran's arms and ushered a worried Omi out of the kitchen, murmuring that it was nothing and that it was their leader's business. Confused as he was left alone Ran pulled at the contents and his eyes widened in shock, almost loosing his grip on the object. Gripping it tightly in his hand he felt his heart shatter. It was a photograph... a photograph of...

Aya. Isn't this such a sight? It's just day 2 oh fearless leader, and he's already broken. Wonder who'll be next? The small blonde or the annoying eldest? This may be the last chance you'll ever see your teammate before we break him to pieces. Aw.. Didn't you know we only want you? Go downtown to the abandoned building #15 by sundown and we might think about it. Be there alone.

Ran was thunderstruck, fuming and despaired all at the same time; he was the target all along. Ran felt his anger surge through every vein in his body, knowing it was his fault all this things happened to the brunette. Ran looks at the pictures of Ken, crumpling it in his hands, so hard that he drew blood, which stained the bloody pictures of the man who had grown so important in his life.

He remembered that day Ken went missing, he had seen hurt in those chocolate eyes when he handed the brunette the phone, he didn't even know how that day would end, didn't expect... and now... just because of a wrong decision on both him and the brunette, Ken was on the verge of breaking, or was he already broken? The redhead was so deep in thoughts that didn't notice the emerald eyes that appeared by the doorway and was watching him sadly.

"What will you do, Aya?" Youji asked, choking out the words of his fear and concern. Aya didn't look up, violet eyes veiled by his long crimson bangs. "I'll go alone... just tell Manx I have a lead on Ken's whereabouts..." Aya muttered as he left the kitchen to go to his room, cooking forgotten.

Just let him still be alive and whole enough for me to save him... Ran closed his eyes and begged once more, hand unconsciously wrapping around the small necklace he had bought.

-----

Aya arrived earlier than the designated time... he scowled at the burly men who met with him and took him deeper inside the deserted place. He himself knew that the head of this group against him and Kritiker was not present there; they would have to have brains to be able to subdue Ken so easily.

"Ah, the leader came, eh?"

Ran only scowled. "Where is he?" he growled with pure anger in his deep voice.

"So impatient, aren't we?" answered the bastard of a voice which was lurking in the shadows, away from the redhead's view. "How about a compromise, Aya, I believe?"

Ran scowled harder, but didn't say anything to indicate that he his listening. A part of the redhead wanted to draw out his katana to kill all of them right then and there, which was clearly visible on it's sheath by his side.

"Ah, I wouldn't think of fighting if I were you, Mr. Aya, or you might regret it... as you know, our group wants you, such punishment must be given to the reason of our friend's death. We give you a choice, give in and we'll free the brunette, or fight whilst one of the men here would call to have Ken assassinated."

Ran's brows furrowed, glare evident in his amethyst eyes. He weighed his chances, if he gave in to them, he won't be sure if they'll release Ken anyway. If he refused and fought them, the chances of one being able to contact the other captors of the brunette to have him killed was up to 80, and that was a risk he wasn't willing to take, regarding that there are almost about hundreds of men there. He absolutely would not take any move that might make Ken hurt even more than he already is.

What to do?...

TBC

WK: Ok that was pretty short, and pretty sick... -pukes- I hope I didn't bore you guys to death –shakes head-. I sort of rushed this one too –sighs-. Boy I'm so evil. –sighs again- I honestly do not like Sakura that much –cringe- don't get mad at me, RanSakura/Sakura fans out there, it's just that she's always tagging to Ran and, uh, she's a threat to RanKen pairing –being paranoid-. –Gets out shotgun and shoots all those who hurt Ken- SHINE!... Your opinions would be gladly accepted, especially constructive criticisms. Flames will only be laughed at; it will only show that you didn't read the warning. This chapter is pretty short so I promise to make the next one as long as I can to make up for it.

Preview: Aya had to make a decision whether to sacrifice himself for Ken with no assurances of the brunette's release; or fight and risk Ken's life, like a life or death decision. If you were in Aya's shoes, what would you do? (this question is meant to help me with the next chappie lol)

- westkitsune –