Chapter 08 : New day
This is for Katie who reviewed twice just to get me to post . LOL Yeah, and now here it is ! dundundun !!!
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Ken glowed at the memory of the night before ... or rather, the afternoon before because Schuldich was on shift last night. He stuck out his tongue at that fact. He hated the fact that Schuldich actually had to be gone several nights a week... but then again, if Schuldich hadn't been on shift that early morning and had gone home, they would have never met.
He lay prostate on the bed, fully-clothed, just mulling over everything that had happened the past few weeks ... all those blissful love-hate-annoy and adore moments spent with Schuldich but even then, he was glad that Schuldich was the one assigned to him. Although come to think of it, even those times that he had to stop himself from wringing the redhead's neck, he enjoyed every moment of hating him ... if that made any sense at all.
It certainly sounded lame and hackneyed when it's put to words, but just the memory was enough and he didn't think of destroying the sweet images from those long moments.
They were almost inseparable, Schuldich, and admittedly, Ken was unwilling to part with the other, but somehow, Ken's somewhat bizarrely developed sense of duty won out over Schuldich's easygoing manner and devil-may-care attitude.
As cliché and banal as it may sound, Schuldich did happen to confess his affections for Ken in a slightly un-brotherly manner and told the flushed brunette that his annoying mockery and taunts were merely a way to show it.
Kan laughed at that, because he knew that Schuldich's way of showing his affection got the opposite effect of what it should have – then.
This time, he knew how Schuldich really was and realized that yes, that was the dumb idiot's way of showing his affection ...
He chuckled.
But somehow, yesterday, the redhead ... or the 'dumb idiot' found some other way of showing his 'affections'.
The truth was, Ken had been slightly afraid of whatever might happen afterwards, considering that he never really had an emotional bond with anyone in his entire life. And Schuldich, as always, was the first in everything. And that scared him – but despite that, he knew that he did actually reciprocate the redhead's feelings and that he was ready to move on into a new life and shed the old, overcautious and wary Ken away.
It was 8:20 in the bright cheerful morning and he'd been up since 5 o'clock mulling over the miniscule details of that particular encounter. Schuldich still wasn't back from his shift and he, on that morning alone, started to hate all Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights because it meant time spent away from Schuldich.
Grinning to himself, he let himself out of the flat with some money Schuldich left liberally on his bedside table with the intention of buying some ingredients for a scrumptious supper. He knew exactly what to cook. Grilled steak, baked potatoes and oysters baked in white wine.
He'd gotten quite good at cooking, Schuldich said. All his creations were perfect after one or two blotched up experiments and he took pride in that because it was one of the few things that he'd discovered about himself that he was good at without requiring his quick pick-pocketing skills or his amazing ability to fight back.
Whistling softly, he hailed a taxi and was surprised to find one gliding quickly to his service.
Schuldich would be back in an hour or so and he wanted to have some great breakfast prepared to celebrate their first day as ... well ... he wasn't really sure what to call it.
They stopped at the red light. The traffic was really light that time of day, and there were few cars on the road.
Whistling a tune under his breath, he glanced out the window at a black blur to their left and discovered that it was a handsome black car.
His heart stopped.
At the wheel was a certain white-haired chauffeur. And his only golden eye was staring right at him.
He sat there, rigid, his heart refusing to resume its work of circulating blood; and he paled., unable to move.
No ...
He leaned over, about to tell the taxi driver to hurry up as soon as the light turned green, but as he counted the moments, waiting for the lights to change color and fending of that disconcerting stare from getting under his skin, he was vaguely surprised when the black blur sped past them in a mad dash as if its sole occupant was hell bent on getting away from the devil.
He blinked and slumped on the chair, his breathing had gone easier. Oh God … He'd been afraid that the man would jump out of the car and threaten him to come at gunpoint. That would be too much.
He had just found a connection with someone after he actually did something almost close to suicide, which was try to get himself from being saved from near death, and he wasn't just about to give up when he actually saw some hope for himself after so long.
They arrived at the grocer's without further incident and the relieved brunette gave the kindly old cabbie an extremely extravagant tip.
The brief meeting with Farfarello put him on his guard and he was almost akin to paranoid as he strolled through the aisles searching for what he needed.
One moment he was glancing over his shoulder, his eyes darting, and the next he was repeating the same action.
He didn't like the revisitation of the feeling. It was reminiscent of the many times he'd been chased by the police or other people that were even more violent. Like gangs.
He was generally hated by gang leaders because he always refused their offers to join the gang. And those guys really took it to heart when they were turned down. That and the fact that Ken almost always managed to
Quickly, he paid for the items at the counter and hauled them over to the entrance, he didn't want the one-eyed man to come circling back and spotting him and taking him to his master the way an experienced professional could kidnap a toddler with a lollipop.
A yellow car was approaching, he hefted the two paper bags and in anticipation when he was pulled back roughly by a gloved hand, his groceries spilling out of the two paper bags as a sweet-smelling handkerchief was clamped over his nostrils.
He struggled for a moment, his breathing quickening in the process. It wasn't long before he slumped against a solid figure behind him and carried easily into the backseat of a waiting black car.
He hadn't even been able to catch a view of his assailant but the last thing on his mind was one word ... one name ... just " Schuldich ..." and nothing else.
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Schuldich was a little bit late, he knew. The truth was, he'd been itching to go back the moment he'd stepped out the door the night before.
Grinning softly, he remembered Ken flushing red in the hazy golden light and the television chattering softly in the background.
Ken was looking up so trustingly at him, open and unguarded – the way he should be, the way Schuldich knew he really was and somehow ... Schuldich couldn't resist him and his blood-red lips softly parted.
There was no struggle, no horror, no anger or disgust in his smooth young face, only quiet acceptance and warm acknowledgement.
Smiling softly to himself, Schuldich took of his coat and hanged it on the rack before tossing the car keys on the little bowl on the doorway table.
He expected Ken to jump out and greet him from somewhere the way he usually did, ignoring the fact that Schuldich was used to it and was no longer even vaguely surprised by his supposedly jolting welcome.
But there was no greeting. Not a sound wafted to where Schuldich stood, only immense and deafening silence.
Puzzled, he glanced to the kitchen where the brunette was probably making breakfast, the way he always did when Schuldich had a shift. He knew Ken loved cooking and rightly so, because he was, surprisingly, a good cook, and all that just with the meager aid of Schuldich's unused and stockpiled cookbooks.
But the kitchen was empty.
Maybe he was reading a book in his room... we-well, maybe in Schuldich's room since last night they officially became ...
He strolled casually to the open door and leaned against the frames, about to open his lips and rasp out a sexy greeting.
The bed was well-made, no sign of anyone.
He checked every room, more and more alarmed at the discovery that the flat was deserted.
Completely.
Cold sweat trickled down the small of his back and for some reason, he was filled with bitter dread.
He rushed to the door and grabbing his keys, made for his car.
It was impossible that Ken ran away. He looked so happy the night before and they even talked about the change in their affiliation with each other and even with all that time for the gravity of their relation to sink in, Ken had looked contented and unruffled.
Maybe he went to the grocer's or ... or ... bought something from a roadside café.
He drove through the city streets, his eye trained sharply out for a familiar brunette head ... without any luck.
Then he knew. He finally knew for certain.
Ken was gone.
And he didn't know where he went.
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RedemptionMoon : You guys don't know how YOU've made me dance a jig around my computer in pilgrimage of your reviewing !!! At least it makes me feel like all this work and typing is worth it because some people are waiting for my updates !
Sorry about not posting earlier but my internet connection got busted and I had to get someone to fix it so ...
Anyway, I want you guys to know that the general outline is finished and only minor changes along the way will occur – unless I change the planned ending completely. And remember my warning about a long roller coaster ride ? Well, the outline is in bullet form and it's six pages already !!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ??? And would you believe that all that has occurred so far is only half of page one of the outline ? LOL yeah, dun tell me I didn't warn you ! But don't worry, I'll try my best to keep you from getting bored ne ?
Anyway, I LOOOOOOVE YOU ALLLLL !!! glomps everyone in sight Please continue to support this fic bows onegaishimasu !!!
Wai – Aki : You're forgiven ! Just as long as you keep on reviewing (threatens with voodoo plushie) thoughtful BradxKen fan huh ? Lessee ! Wahahahaha walks away laughing insanely to self and muttering BradKenBradKen …
Katie : Hiya Katie ! huggles I dun mind you complaining ! Complain all you want ! just and I'll keep on thinking and typing !! Oh, and yeah , for your second review : the sonuvabitch is – you'll find out eventually .
Shini-kuma : LOL don't we all ? Please on reading and reviewing bows
Marsupial : And I will dance more jigs if more reviews are posted !
Tryster : Whoa ! OO points accusingly How did you know ??? yes, it is the calm before the storm. And I'm telling you, what a storm it will be ! I'm posting! I'm posting!
Nashi : Squeal on my good friend ! I am a big fan of squealing fan readers ! LOL And I love you guys for reviewing !! Will keep on posting if you keep on reviewing !
Zeto : Yes, I can tell you've not been around in a while. Coz I think this one's been up for a few months already. LOL But I'm glad you found it ! And I'm glad you love it !
Whisper Reilman : Ooooh demanding !!! OO;;; It's here, it's here. sighs this is what I get for posting yaoi fics ... It's karma I tell you ! karma ! Well you'll find out about Braddy boy soon enough.
Raine : LOL I dun mind whining ! If it gets you to review ! Please whine on !
Minios : You do ? It is ? LOL I'm glad ! Please continue to review then, I'd very much appreciate it! Well, let's just find out who Ken ends up with ne ? That was Reflections through raindrops and ... yeah ... uh - yeah ... LOL
Mariki : LOL Yeah for fluff !!! raises fist in the air Please keep on reviewing !
Kasugai gummie : OO;;; ish poked ... HARD Waiii ... puts on band-aid Here it is ! Here ! Here ! Here ! TT
Schu : I dun mind. It doesn't matter how long it takes just as long as you review right ? Sorry bout that tho, it looks like you won't get to see that after all. The thing is if I do that, this is going to be waaaaaaaay and I mean WAAAAAAY too long! Maybe 40 chapters !!! gasps for breath
Misura : Whoa ! That's an awful lot of reactions ! OO;;; LOL and no, I can't imagine Crawford jumping for anything either. And yeah, I guess you got that right ! Waaaaah ! I can't believe all my regular reviewers know me so well !!!! Can't I not surprise you guys anymore ?!!? Am I not able to make unexpected twists that you guys couldn't predict ??? TT
Zeto : Mistakes ? Please do tell me for improvement ! bows Braddie's scaring you ? Wait'll you see him next ! fufufufufufuuu Let's see, let's see... Yes, the plot thickens !!! more evil cackling : fufufufufufuuuuu
Nikkineedshelp : LOL I'm glad, and I'm planning to make it a good story until the very end so please continue your support ! bows And no, it prolly won't make them happy about that at all. Yeah, somehow Farfarello wasn't a blathering madman – and yet, I don't think he really is one. In my opinion, he's a really cool guy and I never really used him as insane before – perhaps maybe in one of my one-shots but that's it.
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Review onegai !!! this is for Zeto who liked it very much
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