Disclaimer: Weiss Kreutz is not mine. The story is fictional and all similarities to people and events in real life are coincidences. Don't Speak was performed by No Doubt.

Guide to the story:

Narration and dialogue

Lyrics

Thoughts

Author's Notes: This was supposed to be a one-shot, but since it spanned fifteen pages, I thought I'd break It up into three the same way I did when I first posted it on wkff three years ago. Shonen ai. Some spoilers on the OAV and the series end, I think. Flames are accepted, but reviews are more appreciated.

Against All Odds

You and me

It had taken long months of deliberation, but finally, he decided it was time. Fujimiya Aya walked to the front of the trailer where he knew the person he wanted to see would be. "Ken..." he dared to say the name before approaching.

It was Ken's turn to stay at the driver's seat, it was highly unlikely that anyone else would be there. Yoji had gone clubbing and Omi was getting ready for an exam, so they could spend some quiet time together. There were a lot of things Aya wanted to discuss with Ken. A lot of things, which included his feelings for the younger soccer player.

But things were not going as Aya had planned. The moment he was within earshot of the driver's area of the trailer, he heard voices.

"...I really don't think it's right to hide something like this from them," Ken protested quietly. He was obviously trying to keep the conversation covert.

Aya frowned. Hide? What could Ken know about Weiss that Aya didn't? He crept nearer as another voice spoke.

"It's for the best, Kenken, It's for everyone's best interests..."

Purple eyes widened a fraction. Yoji?

"Demo..."

"Ken," Yoji's voice was serious and this silenced the other youth. "I know you believe that honesty is the best policy, but believe me, this is not the time."

Curiosity killed the cat, but that did not stop Aya from wanting to know more. He drew closer until he was almost under the door. There, he could see a lot of what was happening inside clearly with the side mirror. He saw Ken lower his eyes, not saying anything. Yoji spoke again. "Trust me on this one, ne koi?"

Koi! Aya's mind went blank, then became a flurry of emotions. He knelt there, staring at the side mirror as Yoji leaned closer towards Ken.

"Aa..." Ken replied as his head was tilted up to meet Yoji's anticipated kiss.

Ken... A single tear escaped as eyes wild with pain and frustration closed. He had no idea what he should do. He slunk away, and when he was in a safe distance, ran off on an impulse into the night.

We used to be together
Everyday together always

The brown-haired young man glanced at his redheaded companion uncomfortably. The usually unspeakably quiet youth was now unbearably silent. He didn't say a word when Omi almost dropped a bunch of assorted flowers because of the mob of girls that assaulted him on his way back from the supply store. There was no reaction on his face when a small group of admirers flocked around him as he created a new arrangement for one of them. Usually there would be something ranging from an unnoticeable twitch to a full-fledged glare, but there was nothing.

Hidaka Ken sighed wearily. Frankly, he was tempted to pick up some expensive potted plant, walk up to his companion and drop the blossom in front of his feet. But that would be uncalled for. he thought ruefully. He's entitled to his own moods and secrets behind each of them. It's not like I've been completely honest with him and Omi. I'll just ask him about it. Even Aya needs to talk sometimes.

He looked at Aya one last time before minding his own business, and caught the plum-eyed youth staring at him. "I'll help you close up later," he volunteered. "Work hard, ne?" He smiled encouragingly, thinking it was the only thing he could do, and then went on with his work.

Aya stood there, dumbfounded. Behind him Yoji watched wordlessly.

I really feel
Like I'm losing my best friend

"What's bothering you?"

That voice, it was music to his ears. Aya paused a second from his task of putting the plants away to look at his companion in the eye. Ken was watching him intently, waiting for an answer. He wanted to pour his heart out more than anything, but pride was getting in his way. He wanted to tell the younger man the depth of his affections, confess his love, but the upcoming rejection would be too much. A noncommittal grunt escaped his lips before he could figure out what to do.

Ken sighed. "Look, Aya, I know it's none of my business, but keeping things to your self and taking it all out on missions is dangerous for all of us," he said matter-of-factly.

No response.

What could I say? Aya mentally challenged Ken. I love you but I know you're in love with Yoji? The only reason I'm still here in Weiss despite the fact that my sister is safe is because I don't want to lose you? That I'm wading through hell's shit just for the sake of staying by your side?

"It's not helping you one bit keeping everything bottled up inside."

Aya stepped into the trailer, and deposited a large potted plant inside. What could he say?

Becoming impatient, Ken stomped in after him.

He had always dreamed of the soccer player chasing him, but this was not how he wanted it exactly. Had he fallen for someone else, that other person would have figured out by now that he was in love, but Ken, he was different. He was so naïve and down to earth that he would never, not in a million years, think that anyone would be attracted to him in any way.

"I'm not a mind reader, Aya."

How could Ken look so concerned when he was so hard to get through to?

"Why do you care, Ken? What's it to you?" the redhead demanded in a low deceivingly unemotional tone.

"Because you're my friend, Aya. Because you've always been there for me when I needed you," Ken was talking as if Aya was the stupidest person in the world.

"You asked for my help, I'm not asking for yours. Leave me alone."

The chocolate-haired young man froze dead in his tracks. He reeled a bit as though he'd been slapped.

He mustered up his strength and tried to sound more angry than hurt. "Fine, be that way," he managed to say in a respectably clipped tone. Before he walked away, he added as an afterthought, "Aya, you're the closest thing to a brother that I have. I don't want to lose you. Not this way, not in any way. This is why I care."

Aya finished with the chore of closing up. All of his movements were mechanical. There was nothing on his mind. The gray matter in between his ears had been replaced by lukewarm oatmeal swimming with random memories. Only the thud of the closing trailer door brought him back from the haze of thoughts to reality. As a wave of emotion crashed over him tears began to course down his fine cheeks. He leaned his forehead against the backdoor of the trailer.

Why do I keep on doing this to myself? Why do I keep on hurting him? Why do I keep on hurting myself by hurting him? Is it just because he's in love with someone else?

"Is it my fault or his?" he rasped. "Is it!" he cried out pushing himself away from the vehicle, and ramming his fist into the metal. He pulled back his arm and posed for another strike, but a hand stopped him.

"It's not anyone's fault, Aya."

The enraged Abyssinian spun around. "Yoji."

The playboy held up Aya's captured hand. "I think it's time we talked," he said soberly before dropping the pale hand.

I can't believe this could be the end

"We're lovers, Aya."

Those four words crushed the assassin leader's world into tiny little fragments of pain. He wanted to rule what he had seen the night before as a bad dream or some misunderstanding created by an overactive and jealous imagination, but hearing Yoji say those words ruined all that.

"We were given an equal chance with Ken, but the competition ends here," Yoji continued knowing there was no reply to be expected. "I know how you feel about him, that's why I told him we should keep it a secret. Ken would just draw away from all of us if he ever found out that he's the cause of all your pain."

"But why didn't you tell me?" Aya snarled. "I could have given up all my false hopes far before this point! Do you take pleasure in seeing me in pain?"

"I don't." The honesty in the blonde's voice was unbelievable. All the coyness that was part of Yoji's mask had been ripped off at that moment. This silenced the redhead and prodded him to rethink matters. "Would you have reacted differently had we told you sooner? You'd still feel betrayed no matter what."

"So you did betray me so I wouldn't feel so bad because I was right?"

Yoji paled. "Well, I was wrong in that respect, but Ken had nothing to do with this. Don't punish him for what I asked him to do," he finished with more conviction.

A cold wind blew past the two of them. There was nothing more to say. A strange feeling of intuition passed over the two men and they assumed stoic faces.

"I'm surprised to see the two of you out here," a soft alto came out of the darkness.

"There were a few things we had to settle, Manx," Aya kept an eye on Yoji as he spoke.

Manx smiled understandingly at the assassins. "We have a problem."

It looks as though you're letting go
And if it's real,
Well I don't want to know

"I'm sorry."

Ken raised his head from his arms. He recognized the voice, so he was quick to wipe away the tears that marked his face. He hadn't expected Aya of all people to come out here to talk to him, much less apologize to him. Then again, Aya was his closest friend in all of Weiss. The redhead knew more things about him than Yoji did. If anyone could know when Ken needed someone to be with, Aya would. "How did you find me?" He forced his voice to come out clearly.

Seeing that the soccer player had been crying, Aya frowned. "You expected anything less?" the redhead sat beside the younger man. He had listened to the message before heading out to where he predicted Ken would be. He hadn't wanted to be the one to break the news out to Ken, but it was the only way to start a conversation that he could think of. "Ken..."

"I know, we have a mission," Ken choked out. Aya was about to ask how the other boy knew, but the explanation came out voluntarily. "You have this certain tone in your voice when we do. It's like your business voice." He chuckled dryly.

"It's not exactly a mission, Ken," the leader took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. Since when did he have a hard time controlling his emotions? "The Americans are setting up a campaign against us. After we killed Powell and his Rats, they've been forming programs and teams to hunt us down and kill us. It's the end of Weiss..."

"How can you speak about this so calmly!" Ken shouted shooting up from the bench they were on.

Calmly? His heart was close to bursting! "Ken." It came out to solidly. Too impersonally. It came out the way he had always tried it to be, the perfect leader voice. No emotions, no attachments, no fears.

This time, he did it unconsciously, and at a time he didn't intend to do it. When did he internalize this?

"Okay," Ken heaved a sigh, submitting reluctantly to his superior. "Come on, oh great and mighty one, what're your plans? I'm ready to hear them."

His internal debate ended. It was the redhead's turn to sigh. "I...don't know what to do."

Was his voice cracking? How come he didn't have any emotions earlier? How can he have so many emotions now? "I don't know what I can do...what we can do..."

"Aya..." guilt replaced the earlier indignation.

"I only came here to tell you this. You have the right to know..."

Fists clenched, shoulders shaking with silent tears, Ken interrupted him, "I wish I didn't have to."

The tears ripped at Aya the way a thousand sharps knives would have. He rose from where he was sitting and enfolded the younger man in his arms. As Ken gave in to more powerful sobs, the often stoic Weiss leader succumbed to tears. "That's not all you have to know, Ken."

He waited for some sign that the other had hear, but there was none. He decided to continue, though. This isn't the right time, but it's the only chance I have.

"Ken, I love you."

This was most likely the last time they would be together.