I know I'm late with this chapter. Gomen! But see it wasn't easy rewriting it for three times. nod nod My darling beta had so much patience to read it and comment on it!
Now to your great reviews!!!
Yes, Moonlit Eyes I reserve the right for cliffhangers.. Any fanart? nudge nudge Please, enjoy this chapter.
syenite Daiken-ness it is. I love fanservice myself. 0
Nine you're a genius. I'll write more about Ken's emotions. But you're completely right anyway.
Blue Eyed Angel I can't believe I updated it... Thanks for the encouragement!
babydragon I hope you like this one...
Another-world THANK YOU!!!
ivgie It was a long wait I know. I feel bad. But I'm still here!!
The Dance: Chapter 5
by Wormmonsoul
Daisuke heard a lot about opponent gangs. Hiroshi simply loved to bitch about them. There were lots of them out there - Crackers the present champions of the Game, Soma, Delta, Limbo... but Daisuke had never seen them. Until now.
Hiroshi sickened him by repeating that he should watch his back on his way to the Terrace. There were spies, he said, who want to steal our dance. There were guys who didn't want us to take part in the Game.
Daisuke never told him that he was one of these guys.
He took a good measure of the opponents. There were three big guys. The first one was very tall and had a look about himself as if this terrace and the whole world belonged to him. I would punch this one first, Daisuke decided.
The second had swift curious black eyes and that was the only remarkable thing about him. The last one was a silent type but dressed with style, and he stood out as the mastermind of the gang.
Okay, now what? Daisuke thought.
Ken moved past him and swiftly took the CD out of the stereo and pushed it into the baggy pocket of his sweatshirt.
"Get the hell outta here," Ken said.
"Is that the way to greet the winners of the Game, huh?" said the tallest guy with a huge ego in his eyes.
"Fuck you. This is Schwarz territory," Ken said.
"We can go anywhere we want to, bitch," said the guy. "We won the Game."
Daisuke felt hot in the face. He said it to Ken! This guy is in for a lot of trouble...
"You didn't win the fucking Game, Demo," Ken said coolly. "So, damn you better fuck off, Mr. Fucking Nobody."
Daisuke grew uncomfortable. He wasn't used to that Ken. Ken was supposed to be polite.
The tallest guy was far from pleased. His name was Demo.. So he was the one who stole the dance from Schwarz and went over to another gang! Daisuke took the fact that this guy had been dancing with Ken like a personal insult.
So they are Crackers, huh?
"Shut up, bitch," Demo said.
"Anything else you fucking want?" Ken grinned. "My fucking dance? The stick in your ass is so fucking big you don't remember how to fucking dance?!"
"We're not interested in stealing anything from you. What can we take from the poor?" the tallest guy turned to his companions for support. "We want to take a look at your new partner. Junpei told us he was good."
"Junpei?!" Daisuke shouted. "Why?"
"Fucking bastard Junpei," Ken muttered.
Suddenly Daisuke was getting all the attention. He swallowed painfully.
"Hello, what do we have here?" said the black-eyed guy, studying Daisuke from head to foot. "What a pretty slave he'd make. Is he yours?" he turned to Ken. "Can I win him?"
Daisuke's jaw dropped.
"Tao!" his companions hissed.
Tao walked over and pinched Daisuke's shoulder. Next moment Daisuke was holding the collar of his t-shirt and shaking him viciously.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Ken sprang to his friend and tried to pry Daisuke's hands from Tao who was really stunned by this sudden outburst. Finally Ken pushed Daisuke away. Demo and the third guy went to check if their friend was alright.
"I'm not anyone's!" Daisuke shouted furiously. "I'm not a slave. Right, Ken?" he stopped when he saw that Ken was angry at him. "I'm not a slave?" he asked hopefully.
Suddenly he didn't know what to do. There was something that Ken wasn't telling him.
Hell, I don't know what's going on... Why am I doing this then? Daisuke thought. For Schwarz? For Ken? For myself? Why am I getting myself in this awful mess – I don't even know how to dance!
When the gang got together, he always felt like the fifth wheel. Well, probably not the fifth but rather the seventy-hundred sixty-one and a half.. Was it disappointment that just cut across his heart? Anger? A bitter feeling, a you-are-a-miserable-sort-of-a-creature feeling settled in his chest, and the evil remarks from the enemy gang didn't help it go away.
"Don't be stupid, you're not a slave," Ken said. "If you lose in a challenge then you become a slave. You didn't even have any challenges."
His voice was so cold. How can Ken be so cold to him? Of course, they can't go back to the time when they were the best buddies on this side of the planet, but it seemed that Ken considered Daisuke as just another member of his gang. It hurt because Daisuke was so much in love with him.
"Then I want to challenge you!" Tao said. "I love virgins!"
"Hey you, what did you call me!" Daisuke started angrily. "If you want to fight, go on, I'll knock you out!!" He moved with clenched fists to the black-eyed guy but Ken stepped in between them and threw Daisuke back.
"This is not a challenge to fight. This is a challenge to the dance. Don't get your ass involved, Dai," the indigo-haired muttered. But Daisuke was feeling heroic so he gave them a finger. The trio exchanged dark looks and turned to him with faces that meant business.
"Look, Ken, I have a strong suspicion this guy wants to get his ass involved," Tao said. "Lemme give him a taste of it. I want to see what he's made of, if you really want to list him in for the Game. As your partner."
The last word was said with a nasty snort. Demo sniggered and the third guy gave a throaty laugh.
"Yeah... How d'ya like it, Ken?" Demo said. "You have no chance, you'd better give up before you make the whole world laugh at you. Dancing in a pair is shitty. If you have any good sense in your nut you'd quit the losers from Schwarz like I did. Nobody ever won the Game with a paired dance..."
"Go suck your dick and shut up," Ken said.
"Watch your shitty mouth! When we win the Game you'll be so fucking sorry!"
That was when Daisuke sprang forward again, intending to deal a good blow to Demo's head. Ken caught his wrist and jerked him backwards. Daisuke had never realized Ken had the strength to do that. Gee, today Ken was full of surprises...
"Well, first you have to win the damned Game! And if you ask me, I'll bet my life Ken's gonna do that!!" Daisuke shouted. "Do you think we can't win this dance? It's a piece of cake!"
Demo gave Daisuke a smirk.
"Whassis name again? Die? Boo, scary.. That sissy here can't dance for the life of him!"
Ken pressed his lips together so thin that they became white. He was going to do something scary.
"You bet I can! I'll do that challenge!"
"Dai, back off, I said!" Ken hissed angrily. But damn, Daisuke was mad now. It was too late to stop. With some grim satisfaction he thought that Ken should have explained everything before he signed him up as a dancer. Right now Daisuke was going to show him that he was a breathing, talking human being with feelings, not a Walkman in his hands that he could turn on and off whenever he wanted. (The 'on' part was right though.)
He turned to Ken.
"Look, you wanted me here. It's always 'Game here and Game there', and I'm just Spaghetti Legs, right? To hell with it," the mahogany-haired said stubbornly. "I don't know what kinda shit you got yourself into this time, but I'll help you out. Trust me, k? Okay?! Because I... I don't want to lose you again," he whispered. Ken listened to him with a stubborn frown then he gave up, shrugged his shoulders and leant on the wall like he wasn't there at all. "You're on!" Daisuke called to Tao.
The black-eyed guy was all happiness now.
"Hey Tao," Ken called. "This fucking challenge is not for real. You won't take Dai from me." Then there was a maniacal grin on his face. "Or else I'll be dancing with you until your fucking bones break."
"Deal," Tao grinned.
Everything swiftly changed around them. A fight was in the air and it tasted salty, like blood.
Suddenly Ken pulled Daisuke close by the elbow and whispered into his ear. "I explain. You were challenged. You dance when he stops. No rules here. Don't fuckin' copy his moves. Show him that you can fuckin' move. Watch him and learn – the bastard is a good dancer, but you're damn good too."
His words washed over Daisuke's ear like a kiss, and the boy gulped, feeling tingles on his cheek.
"Wish you luck," Ken whispered.
Daisuke was left alone with Tao in the middle of the terrace.
The song was a mix of hip hop, funk and what not. Good. He didn't have much choice in dances, only hip hop and waltz. He gave a nervous laugh.
Tao, grinning, circled the opponent and Daisuke glared at him, waiting for his first move. It would be so much easier if it was just a fight. The problem would be solved with a few of punches. But no, it had to be more complex than that. Complexity was a story of his life. When he was eleven, he had to fight with a mad dictator, then with an army of flame-throwing monsters from the digital world, then he fell in love with that mad dictator and now this… What has he done in his past life to deserve this?!
Times New Roman you know the type
Calling me Public Enemy, but don't believe the hype
The wooden floor gave a soft moan when Tao sprang into dance. The guy danced faster and faster as if there was some device in his body that made him spin and jump with music. Daisuke knew a professional when he saw one. But so what? Ken said move. Daisuke slid into movement.
Know what I think? I think you might be Darwin's missing link
Get all bent out of shape when the heat is on just like a Shrinky Dink
Anyway, Shuichiro and Junpei thought he was a great dancer, even though they thought he was a great asshole too. He glanced at Ken and the boy nodded to him.
Bet I can take a hint better than I can take a hit
Completely incompatible though I'm a pussy and you're a dick
Tao, he thought, you're going to be sorry you challenged me. Oh yes, he loved the aggressive rhythm of that song. It resonated with his feelings towards the swaying dancer before him.
How can you hold a grudge when you can't even hold a job?
Should have known butter but you're not corn on the cob
I choose to use a song for a weapon not a sword struck a chord
If I wanted to see stars I'll watch the "Academy Awards"
Daisuke felt as if the muscles of his body were the extension of the melody. He closed his eyes. Perfect rhythm. He was one with the music. It was an overwhelming feeling. That's how the real dancer must feel, not those who know better moves but those who have music pulsing through them like blood. All of a sudden the music changed and he hesitated.
All in all, you're just another dick with no balls
Tao went down and started to swivel on his hands and on his back and Daisuke could only stand there and gape. He heard Ken hiss, move! but he knew he couldn't do it.
Tao sprang up and smirked at him.
There was the sound of running feet at the entrance and Hiroshi with the rest of the Schwarz rushed onto the scene.
"What the hell?!" Hiroshi demanded.
"It's a challenge!" the silent guy said. Shuichiro angrily spat on the ground.
Mama said talk this out and resolve
Don't wanna be involved so gimme a call when you evolve
Doggy paddle to the shallow end of the gene pool
Half with it half wit half finished high school
I've got to be careful with that jackass, Daisuke thought. How Tao could pull such a stunt with only his hands, spinning like a merry-go-round and all that...? Maybe, Daisuke thought while his body was relaxing before another round of whirling and stomping, Ken will teach me.
No sorry I'm a lover not a fighter commit your crime
I'll be glad to do your girlfriend, I'll be glad that you do time
He danced furiously. Every movement like a strike at the opponent.
I'll win the Game for Ken. Never I will let anyone take Ken away from me!
Snap.
All in all you're just another dick with no balls
Damn it, it happened again! He didn't know how to dance to this music. Tao launched into the break dance, leaving Daisuke stand, panting, watching it with bleary eyes. Tao was showing off now that he knew Daisuke couldn't dance break.
Damn it.. Someday, I'll dance even better...
Riiiiiiiiiiight tuuuuuuuuuuuurn Clyyyyyyyyyyyde
It was shameful to stand and gape and unable to move to the music that wouldn't end…
Then it was over.
Daisuke found a wall and leant against it. This dance took all of his strength. But he still could send death glares at the opponents, and so he did.
"I LIKE HIM!" Tao exclaimed and pointed at Daisuke. "See you at the Game. Let's go boys."
"Yeah, we don't want to stay around Hiroshi!" smirked the silent guy. The Schwarz leader went red with anger but surprisingly enough said nothing.
When Tao was passing Daisuke he whispered, "After the Game, pretty boy, you're mine. Go to Ken for explanation." He winked and said to Ken, "Pity you have no chance, Ken! The Game is ours!"
They went away. The Schwarz looked after them into the dark.
"Stupid jerks," Shuichiro spat on the ground.
"They're right, we have no chance," Hiroshi said and kicked the wall.
Suddenly Ken grabbed Junpei by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"You sold Dai to Crackers! How did they fuckin' return the favour - blew your dick till you fuckin' screamed?!"
"Hey, Ken! Easy!"
Hiroshi and Junpei managed to tear the genius from the whimpering guy.
"Lemme fuckin' go!" Ken shouted. "You bitch Hiroshi! What's up with the fuckin' pessimistic attitude? You're supposed to cheer me up, for fuck's sake! I'm gonna win this Game for you fuckers and you can't even keep Dai away from all that shit?!"
Daisuke watched it in shock. Junpei burst out crying.
"I swear I didn't tell 'em anything! I only said we're gonna show up at Challenges cuz things're going smooth in our gang! I swear!.."
"Ah shut the fuck up," Ken grabbed his backpack. "We don't have any choice. Now we HAVE TO show up at the fuckin' Challenges, you asshole!" He turned to Daisuke, "Get the fuck up and move out."
Daisuke was still heavily panting on the floor. He was proud of himself. He won! Or, at least, he didn't lose. It was his moment of glory.
But Ken's words were like a bucket of cold water.
"Ken!" he hissed.
"Quit lying around, let's go!" the indigo-haired boy started walking away.
"Huh?" Daisuke couldn't understand him. Where are the congratulations? The flowers? No 'well done' or 'good job'? Nothing?
"Hey wait up, Ken!" the boy sprang up and followed Ken out into the buzzing night. "Hey, Ken!"
At that time of the night the Park was empty. It gave him creeps. Ken was marching ahead, smashing away the moths. Daisuke caught his arm and turned him sharply, still breathless and wild from the battle in the terrace. The other boy was already calm.
"What's got into you, Ken?"
"Nothing. Sorry. I'm sorry that I brought you into this, Daisuke."
Daisuke let his bag slip from his shoulder and pulled Ken close into a hug. His heart was beating wildly. Sure, Ken said awful things to him but it must not affect their friendship... Daisuke suddenly realised that Ken might get him wrong about this hugging in the empty park and stepped away.
"I don't want to hear that. I want my explanations, Ken. I really want to know what's happening here."
"Alright," Ken said. "Over there?" He gestured to the deserted playground.
They threw their bags at the foot of the pole and Ken fell tiredly on the swing. Daisuke fell down on the same swing, with his back to Ken. The boy traced the shadows of the chains on the sand with his foot. The moon was behind him.
"It's pretty serious, isn't it?" Daisuke said after a pause. "Your gang's business?"
"Yeah... It's really just a game.. until..."
"Until?" Daisuke shivered with cold. Ken pushed with his leg on the ground and the swings started to sway.
"Lemme tell you a story... There was a guy who liked to hang around street dancers. One day they said they would teach him to dance. So he joined their gang. They made him go to the Challenges and when he failed against their leader they made him a slave. You don't want to be a slave, Daisuke, trust me. His master was a real asshole. I mean he raped that boy and beat him. And he couldn't escape because everyone knew that he was his slave. Once you become a slave, there is no way back."
Daisuke froze. The moonlight and silence carried Ken's voice far away, and it reminded him of creepy stories told by the fire in the camp.
"What then?" he asked. His breath caught in his throat as an awful supposition hit him.
"That guy never stopped being a slave after that. He just passed from one master to another. I think he's just got unlucky but it happens, you know. End of the story," Ken said casually.
"Was that guy you?" Daisuke asked.
He felt Ken's back strain.
Then there was laughter. Loud unstoppable infectious laughter that was so rare of Ken. It rang all over the playground. For some reason, Daisuke knew he had been extremely silly.
"Oh fuck, Dai," Ken nearly slipped to the ground but caught the chain with his hand. "I was talking about JUNPEI!!! Bwahahaha!!! For fuck's sake, Dai! Me?! A slave! Ha ha ha ha ha!.. Never!"
"Cut it out, Ken!"
"I was haha... was trying to make a point... it's dangerous to take part in the Challenges haha... And, seriously, it's the same on the Game. The winner gets it all. So if the Crackers win... " Ken finished grimly. "They'll have a field day with us. That's why we're all so wind up about it."
"Oh," Daisuke said. He sort of got what Ken implied and sort of didn't.
"So, are you ready to throw everything in the game, Daisuke?" Ken asked quietly.
It was late to step down anyway. Daisuke shivered. For some reason, the memory of the Digital world came up. It sure wasn't easy to fight against heavy-armoured and potentially crazy digimon, but they managed to win. They proved to be stronger that their own fear of losing. It was kind of a similar situation now, wasn't it?
"Yeah..." the boy sighed. "But we have to win, Ken. What are our chances?"
"First. The situation is bad. You're not ready for Challenges. No hard feelings, k?"
Ken got off from the swing and stood before Daisuke, holding the chains with his hands. Moonlight played in his eyes and in his earring. "There are two rules in the Game," he grinned. "Slaves can't take part in it. And. You can do anything as long as it doesn't personally involve the others. Like I said before, Junpei doesn't meet the requirements. And Hiroshi is an idiot. He was the only one who broke the second rule of the Game and got banned."
Daisuke held up his hand. "A question! Who is Junpei's master now?"
"Hiroshi," Ken laughed as Daisuke's eyes bulged out. "Don't worry, he's a good master."
For a moment they fell silent.
Ken pushed himself up and landed his knees on the swing on both sides of Daisuke. He sat down in his lap. Daisuke looked up to Ken's face framed with the indigo wave of hair swaying in the wind. He had no idea what Ken expected him to do.
"Why was Hiroshi banned?" Daisuke pushed the swing and it squeaked and moved.
"The Game is where they do all the crazy stuff - sex, drugs, liquor. You can find anything there, all kinds of people. Sure everyone dances. Those who have the privilege, dance on the scene. Like we will have to do. According to the rule, you can't take cameras with you. It's to avoid publicity. Imagine the photos land in the hands of cops." Ken sighed. "Hiroshi went and taped it all. Cuz he wanted to tape his beloved Kami's dance. Then he showed it to some people. The idiot. When other gangs got to know about it... let's just say, he was lucky to stay in one piece. He hid the tape, by the way. Nobody knows where it is."
Daisuke tried to listen to Ken but he got distracted by wrong thoughts. They were absolutely alone in this playground, and it seemed in the whole world. They were free to do anything. Daisuke put one arm around Ken's waist and pushed the swing into motion again. It felt crazy.
"He pulled some strings, so they let Schwarz in the Game. But they gave us the paired dance. And there was only me and Demo available in the Schwarz then..."
"How did you get into dancing, Ken?"
The boy shrugged.
"Two years ago. I had depression. I missed Digital world and Wormmon..."
Daisuke felt the urge to hold Ken tight and make the despair in his voice go away. He knew what it was like to say goodbye to his partner. It felt so empty sometimes. Until he met Ken he felt so empty...
"So I... you won't believe it, Daisuke."
"I will." I'll believe anything you say.
Ken smiled. "I went to ballet school."
It was the second time in five minutes that Daisuke's eyes were bulging out. Ken smacked him lightly on the chest. "Hey! Dancing helps relieve depression!"
"I dunno," the brown-haired rolled his eyes. "I know sex helps." Then he bit his tongue. Ken would think that his friend was a perfect pervert.
"What a load of knowledge, hmm..." Ken whispered by his ear. "Anyway. Sex was out of the question cuz I was 13."
"I get your point," Daisuke said weakly.
"I met Hiroshi when he came to pick his sister and then I met him in the street, dancing hip hop. I asked him to teach me. I suppose I was talented. And then I was in Schwarz and we got the dance. Demo joined later. Bastard. I got everything ready - the choreography, the music for the Game. He sold it to Crackers and they took him in. He wanted me to quit Schwarz too but I told him to go to hell."
"We have neither dancers nor dance and it's less than three months before the Game. Any more problems?" Daisuke murmured.
"There is. If only we didn't get this damned paired dance! The Game is all individual dances. But every time some gang has to stage a group dance and a paired dance. By the way, Crackers are doing the group dance. Paired dance is the worst. You have to maintain body contact, to coordinate the moves with your partner, to pay great deal of attention to your partner, to be one with him... Nobody likes paired dances."
Daisuke felt his face glow with the words 'body contact'. With Ken.
"I like them already," Daisuke smiled. Ken laughed. "Pervert!"
"I know."
"Anyway, next problem is this. Since when Kami won the Game two years ago, it is a fashion among the gangs to dance break and hip hop. Hip hop in pair is risky. That's why Demo is cracking stupid jokes about it. But I have it all figured out. You and I CAN dance hip hop and we can do it together. See, Daisuke? We'll win," Ken smiled. "There are some moves from tango, samba and rock'n'roll in our dance. You can learn break from Hiroshi. If we work hard, we'll do it."
Daisuke pushed the swing. He was getting dizzy. It was late and cold and he didn't want to go home! Anything but home! He would love to stay all night in the Park holding Ken in his arms just like now. This would be the perfect time to kiss him... Daisuke shook his head.
"More problems?"
"There are, but we'll deal with them later. There are two good things though."
"Huh?"
Ken gave a smile. "I have you. One. And two: Shuichiro is a DJ for this Game."
"Cool." Daisuke caught Ken's eye and his skin crawled from pleasure.
He needs me. He said it himself. And he doesn't mind my arm over his waist and he doesn't make big fuzz out of sitting on my lap. We're talking as if we were never apart. He behaves like we're more than friends. It gives me a very nice feeling...
"Actually there are two DJs - Shuichiro from Schwarz, and Dusty from Crackers. Which is kinda bad and good at the same time." Ken let go of the chains and locked his arms around Daisuke's waist. The boy gulped.
What does he want me to do?!
"Another question?"
"Fire away."
"Who's Kami?" Kami meant God. It was the second time Ken said this name tonight.
"Oh that..." Ken grinned. "He's that legend everybody is so crazy about, including Hiroshi."
"Hiroshi's beloved? The legendary dancer? Will we meet him in person?"
"Nope. He's not dancing anymore. Nobody knows where he's gone to. Daisuke," Ken leant his face closer. "We'll win. We won in the Digital world, remember? And it wasn't easy. We can become heroes again. Do you remember what it was like? This feeling, when you win - even if nobody knows about it - as if the whole world belongs to you alone. It's just the same in the real world. We'll become legends ourselves."
For a moment, Daisuke was back to the Digital World from four years ago. The group of the Chosen Children against the most artful and powerful digimon. And when it was over and they won against all odds, there was a feeling of relief and happiness... You could take the whole world in your palm and do anything. You felt like God. Daisuke nodded.
"Sure we will..." Their lips were so close that their breaths mingled.
I think he wants it too… to kiss me…
"You were great tonight..." Ken's words blew into his mouth. Feeling a pleasant vertigo, Daisuke pulled Ken to him and kissed his lips. They closed their eyes. They stayed like that for some time and Daisuke couldn't - simply couldn't - believe that he had done it. Ken's lips were so soft that he wanted to run his tongue over them just to know that he was still kissing him. When they parted, they were breathless.
Ken smiled down on him.
"So..." he whispered. "That was the famous Motomiya's kiss?"
"Not so famous. It was my first," Daisuke answered weakly. He wondered if Ken was disappointed. He must be. It sure wasn't anything spectacular. Kids kiss like that, honestly... Why were his hands shaking?
There was a long moment of silence. Ken licked his lips and cocked his head. "Want to know how my famous kiss tastes?"
After a tentative nod, Ken leant forward. There was a gleam in his eyes that said, 'hang on tight there'. He caught his lips with his open mouth, pushed his tongue in-between his teeth and proceeded to suck his breath out of his throat. Tantalisingly slow. His tongue curled around Daisuke's own. Soon every cell of Daisuke's body was on fire. Ken licked the boy's lips and leant back to watch the reaction.
Daisuke sat very still. He knew he was supposed to say something but he couldn't make himself speak.
He didn't want to even think. He didn't want to think when and where Ken learnt to kiss like that. He didn't want to think what was happening to his blood pressure and specially about some of his body parts. He didn't want to think how stupid and inexperienced his own kiss was to Ken and what a dork he seemed to his beautiful genius.
"Hey," Ken said softly. His violet eyes betrayed his confusion. Daisuke stayed silent. Too many emotions rushed to his head.
"Daisuke?" Ken asked worriedly. "Did I shock you that much?"
"I'm alright," Daisuke said levelly. "No, really, I'm okay. I just realized how much I actually like you and how great it would have been if you…" he stopped.
If you showed me that you like me back. I can only hope…
"Arara…" Ken covered Daisuke's hand with his. "I shouldn't have kissed you. You'd think I tried to scare you."
"No!" Daisuke protested. "I loved every second of it! I want to do it more often!"
Ken smiled and pulled him to his feet.
"Come on then."
"Where?" Daisuke panicked.
"Let's go shopping," he grinned and pulled the brown-haired boy to the exit.
They were heading in the direction of the shopping area. Daisuke walked beside Ken, stealing glances at him. And grinning like an idiot to himself.
It was so good to realise that their relationship moved to a new level. But at the same time it was scary.
The streets were crowded, the lights were on and as they walked into the mall, they were surrounded by animated talks and happy couples on every square meter of the floor. Ken was sliding through the crowd like a knife. He looked like a bad boy on a night out - black flowing trousers and black hoodie over a white tight t-shirt. People stopped and followed him with their eyes. Nobody would know that he was the Ichijouji genius from TV.
They entered the clothes department. The air-conditioning was on, there were few people here and the Killer Queen was playing in the background.
She keeps Moet&Chandon in her pretty cabinet
'Let them eat cake' she says, just like Marie Antoinette
A built in remedy for Khrushchev and Kennedy
And anytime an invitation you can decline
Caviar and cigarettes well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
There were still many questions on his mind. Ken moved his hand over the clothes' racks and pulled a black t-shirt to have a closer look.
She's a killer queen gunpowder gelatine, dynamite with a lazer beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind... (anytime)
Recommended at the price Insatiable an appetite (wanna try?)
"A question!"
"Hmm?" Ken said.
"Who are our enemies?"
"Crackers," Ken said at once. "Practically, everyone. We don't have friends first because of Hiroshi's reputation, second because there are no friends in the Game."
To avoid complications, she never kept the same address
In conversation, she spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China went down to Geisha Minah
Then again incidentally if you're that way inclined
Perfume came naturally from Paris (naturally)
For cars she couldn't care less, fastidious and precise
"Why do you want so much to take part in this Game?"
Ken frowned.
"Call it Ichijouji's ambition, if you will." Then he looked up at Daisuke and smiled. "It smells of danger and of risk. When I first heard about it, I knew I will get into the Game no matter what. And I'll win it. Sounds nuts to you?"
"I think this is too risky. Especially, this slave thing."
Ken shrugged.
"Yeah... but that's the beauty of it. I love challenges. They make me feel alive." Ken grabbed several t-shirts and went over to the racks with suspiciously looking trousers. Daisuke followed with caution. "I'm sick of my good boy image. I'm sick of the good life my parents and teachers offer me. They would be horrified if they saw me like this." Ken chuckled. "Maybe I'm just a difficult child."
He threw a pair of trousers over his hand and gestured towards the dressing room.
"Besides, you like me that way," he smiled with a twinkle in his violet eyes. "Right?"
"Right."
Daisuke blushed. Hell, why do I have to blush like a ten year old? But I know why. I never realised before but now that I think about it, nobody took me seriously when I was in love. Except for Ken.
Ken slapped his back nonchalantly.
"Quit spacing out. It's time you worked on your image." And he handed Daisuke the clothes.
"For me?!"
"Sure. From now on you are a new person. I want you to bring out your bad side and act on it."
They marched to the stalls and Daisuke got into one. He looked at the clothes. Everything Ken said sounded problematic. New person, bad side, new image... it was scary. But fun!
He changed quickly and stepped out of the room. Ken had an immaculate taste for clothes. Black baggy trousers were sitting low on his hips and reached down to his mid-shins, where the clasps tanged. Daisuke didn't bother to clasp them. A simple black singlet was hugging his ribs like second skin. The bottom rim of it stopped just above his bellybutton. Ken bit his lip not to smile too wickedly. Under his scrutiny Daisuke felt uncomfortably hot.
"Good," Ken murmured. He handed him a black spiderweb tunic and told to put it on top.
"Black again?" Daisuke asked.
"Schwarz means 'black'," he said and ran his hand appreciatingly over his chest. "That's the symbol of our gang. Black."
Ken's hand slipped to his stomach. It was a shock to Daisuke.
"You'll be wearing this for Challenges," he concluded.
"But it's too expensive!" Daisuke said. "I have no money!"
"Don't worry." Next moment Ken was holding him and whispering into his ear. "We'll steal it."
"What?!"
"Nobody's looking," Ken said and started nuzzling Daisuke's neck. Then he pushed him into the stall and closed the door with his foot. "Kiss me," he said.
"K-k-kiss?"
"Do it NOW!" Ken pulled Daisuke down on the floor and climbed on him. His hands meddled with his tunic and slipped under it.
What is he doing?! Daisuke panicked. And frenched him. Ah, it was really sweet when Ken responded. The two of them were tangled on the floor, making out, and Daisuke was in heaven.
Then Ken reached out and grabbed Daisuke's clothes from the shelf and began stuffing them into his bag.
"Daisuke," he panted into his collarbone. "I'm going to get you some boots. Listen, you walk out of the shop on the underground floor. There are usually few officers down there." Ken slipped his hands into his trousers and Daisuke's eyes grew large but then Ken found the magnet there and pulled it off with some device. "I took off the labels and magnets so you'll be alright. Put your jacket on. Go to the WC in the Park, got me? I'll be right behind you."
"How come you have this thingy to pull magnets?!!" Daisuke whispered viciously.
"I borrowed it at the cash," Ken winked.
"Ken, are you mad?!"
Instead of answering Ken frenched him again.
"If you get to the Park I'll kiss you again," he promised. "See ya, baby!" Ken got off him and went out of the dressing room. He took his bag with him. For a whole minute Daisuke was too stunned to get up from the floor, but when he woke up he realised that Ken took his old clothes with him. He had no choice.
Ken, you bastard.
Stealing is bad. Stealing is bad. Stealing is bad. If you get caught they'll call your parents and even if you're too young to go to jail, you'll get punished anyway.
Holy shit!
Ears burning, Daisuke quickly moved to the underground floor. He cringed at the sight of the police officer standing at the exit. He stopped at the machine selling drinks and pretended to be choosing something until the officer moved away from the exit to the cash register.
Daisuke almost ran out of the door. It didn't ring. He shot off towards the Park, maneuvering around the cars and cursing Ken and everything else.
Then his nerves kicked in. What if Ken got caught? What if they call HIS parents? That would be the end of the world for Ken.
He ran full speed into the WC and there was Ken sitting with his back to the mirror near the sink, grinning at him.
"What took you so long?" He laughed when he saw the state Daisuke was in. "Come on, get the boots on!"
"Ken, I'm gonna kill you!" Daisuke hissed.
"I know."
"You KNOW!! This is against law! You can get caught! Besides, it's immoral! People who work in this shop will suffer! When I think about it, I can't even WEAR these clothes!!"
"It'll be a waste if you threw them away." Ken shrugged.
"Is this the way you do things now?! Stealing clothes?!"
"It's no big deal."
Seeing that arguing with Ken wouldn't get him anywhere, Daisuke complied and put on the new boots. They were pretty comfortable for dancing, stylish, and they were, of course, black.
"Yummy," Ken said.
"But I'm still pissed at you!" Daisuke said defensively. Ken swang his legs impatiently.
"Come 'ere," he said softly. "You deserve a kiss, don't you?"
After a few moments of battling with conflicting emotions, shame and fury, desire and stubborness, Daisuke came up and put his arms around Ken's waist.
"You make me go insane," he muttered darkly.
Ken moved his hand over his spiky mahogany hair and pulled him close for a deep kiss. Like always, Daisuke's head swam when their tongues touched. He sighed when they parted and he knew that he had already forgiven Ken. Daisuke leant into his shoulder with his eyes still closed.
"Tomorrow I'll teach you tango," Ken murmured into his hair. "It's gonna be great."
"And the Challenges?" Daisuke asked.
"Soon."
tsuzuku...
a/n teary eyed I have a request to all you fellow writers. As I'm not a native English speaker (big shock there, I know) I don't know the names for clothes the hip hop guys wear. Please, somebody explain it to me... And leave me comments about this chapter so that I can work on the next one!!
A little note here. I FINALLY updated Secret Sleep on mediaminer. It's YamatoxKenxDaisuke and the reason I don't post it here is that it is NC-17 rated (I warned you...). I'd appreciate a review (grin) especially since it's my first threesome lemon (under the name of wormmonsoulonfire). grin