Part Twenty-Two
A full minute may have passed as Shioshiro continues to stare at his father with wide, disbelieving eyes. It has to be some trick of the light, he thinks at first, but he knows he isn't quite that lucky. Ran is indeed there, hovering over him now with his arms crossed, and though his expression is mostly unreadable, he does not look at all surprised at what he just heard his son say.
Meanwhile Shioshiro's mind kicks into gear. He has to think quickly.
"Kento…dying? Where'd that come from?" he laughs, admiringly genuine-sounding, especially considering he is all-out lying.
Ran does not even speak. His arms shift a little, still crossed, his lips set into a firmer line, and a single red eyebrow rises. Shioshiro suddenly feels rather reminiscent of a time when he was 14 and…he shudders at the thought.
"Oran…listen…"
"I'm through listening unless you are ready to tell me the truth." Ran speaks sharply.
Yep, 14 all over again. "I…what I said…I didn't really mean--"
Apparently, Ran was very much telling the truth when he said he was through listening to lies. Leaning down, the redhead grabs hold of Shioshiro's arm and pulls, lifting the younger man roughly to his feet. "You've been lying to my face since the day you arrived, I know. But not anymore. Things have come too far for that."
"I…I don't know what you're…talking about…" Shioshiro stammers, his tears still so close to the surface and his tone unable anymore to hide his lies.
Ran's grip tightens, his violets devoid of any light as he glares angrily. Though Shioshiro winces, Ran pays no heed. "I guessed Ken's death long before today, Shioshiro. The way you cling to him… I thought at first you were merely closer to him than you are to me--"
"No! I…it's just that I--"
"But I have come to realize how desperate your love is. You hide the way your face lights whenever he is around, but I see. To interact with a loved one you know to be dead…I cannot imagine what that must be like, but…to lie to me now, when I not only know, but have heard from your own lips--"
"Okay!" Shioshiro cries, trying hard to pull his arm from Ran's grip, but his growing hysteria prevents him. "It's true, okay…but…please, Oran, I…I can't…you don't understand. Out of…everything I've kept from you…this…I…I can't …" And the tears burst, streaming silently down the young man's face as he continues struggling out of Ran's grip without success.
The anger still strong in Ran's resolve begins to wane. Again, he remembers that this task seems more than his son can handle, for more than once has it brought the brunette to tears. Ran would never grudge him the act, though; he knows how often each of them in Weiss has been brought to their knees, weeping.
Loosening his grip, Ran pulls on Shioshiro's arm, gently this time, and brings the boy into his arms. He is still angry, still determined to hear the truth before this is over, but he never could stand to see that smile gone. Not on either of the men it belongs to.
"I'm…not really like this…" Shioshiro sobs with a forced, half-laugh, his voice muffled against Ran's shoulder. "…I don't…break down. I swear…I'm not this…this…"
"Weak." Ran finishes, knowing just what Shioshiro is thinking, because he knows he would be thinking the same if it were him. Ran hugs Shioshiro closer. "I do not think you are weak. And you shouldn't either. This task, the weight of saving the world and having to keep so much to yourself…is more than any one man should have to bear. I think you will be doing yourself a favor…when you tell me what happens to Ken." Ran very distinctly feels Shioshiro tense, but he is not about to back down.
Shioshiro lifts his head from Ran's shoulder, still resentful that he has been wearing his heart on his sleeve and that a simple thought of his father's death, even when he has been spending everyday with that very father, can still bring him to tears.
Just like when he was a child.
"You're not going to…tell the others…?" Yep, definitely feeling like a pouting child.
"That depends on the circumstances." Ran says, unwavering in his commitment to do what is right in the face of this development. Besides, if he wasn't maintaining a straight-laced expression, he might start giving away…how frightened he is.
Still feeling very much the child in his father's arms, Shioshiro decides not to pull out of them just yet, though his tears are thankfully beginning to run dry. "It…it's not supposed to happen for years…you don't…need to tell the others, really."
The corners of Ran's mouth turn down, knowing there is something yet that Shioshiro is keeping from him. "If it isn't meant to happen for years, how do you know what we have done so far won't change it? Why worry at all if it is not something you will be facing directly?"
"Because…because…we could…we…might…face it a helluva lot sooner…by dealing with Estet now…we…it…might…" Damn, he thought the waterworks had ended, and he really wishes they had as they begin to stream again.
Not again. It won't happen again.
"There's…no way to know…not for sure, but…the man who…killed him…was from Estet." Shioshiro continues, vision blurred as he stares back into his father's eyes. "It happened when you hit one of their sectors…" he pauses. "…ten years ago."
Ran starts, the fear he had managed to keep at bay jumping suddenly onto his stunned features. "Ten years…" he whispers. "Then…you were only…"
A small, bitter smile breaks onto Shioshiro's face. "Ten years old. I was ten. Kento was…we were getting ready to celebrate his 40th. He has double his life left if things happen as they did…but that is not enough. Not…enough. And…we'll be doing that same mission, only…more so, more dangerous. I know it's stupid to assume the same situation would happen, but…the idea…I…I came back to stop this! I won't let it happen!"
A moment of silence, then... "You came back…for this?"
Shioshiro's eyes widen. Oops.
"You came back to help with all those previous missions. You came back to help us stop Estet, to save lives." Although Ran speaks each phrase as a statement, he does not believe them, even as they leave his lips. He shakes his head. "Please do not tell me you have led us through all this not with the intention of saving any of the lives we have saved, but to prepare us…to save Ken's life."
Tears still streaming, Shioshiro cannot even nod, but his silence is enough to confirm Ran's words.
Pulling his son fully out of his arms, Ran grips Shioshiro firmly by the shoulders, looking him in the eye directly. There is no time for fear or fooling around, not with this. "Shioshiro, all of it…it was all…merely for one thing, wasn't it?"
Shioshiro does not reply. He tries to pull out of Ran's grip, but he isn't faring too well with that today.
"All of it…" Ran shakes his head. "You came back to save him. Only him. Didn't you."
The accusatory words, the disappointment in Ran's tone…Shioshiro can't take it. A mighty jerk at last frees him from Ran's grip. "Don't make it sound…like I don't care about the others we've saved." he growls, face damp and red, but eyes suddenly narrowed, defensive. "I needed you to believe we were doing it for a greater cause. And we are. What we're doing is important. Estet will cause a lot more deaths, would have, if not for us. But…it's true. I needed to ensure extra help. Schwartz. The other Weiss. Kritiker. We're going to need their help to pull this off. It's…not just for Kento…we…we're doing--"
"We're doing a good thing. But we are doing it for a selfish reason. We are doing it because of orders built off a lie. After what happened with Youji…I thought you had grown out of this. I thought you knew better than to deceive us."
Shioshiro practically sneers. "Don't start turning all paternal now. Please. You might as well have been gone these past ten years too."
Ran feels like he just received a blow. He is honestly shocked as Shioshiro turns from him. That snide attitude. He remembers it, vaguely, from their first encounter. But it has not appeared much since. Or at least…it has been well hidden.
Has Shioshiro been hiding more than Ran realized?
"Shioshiro…what…what are you not telling me?"
Perhaps it is the touch of fear and betrayal in Ran's voice that causes Shioshiro to immediately turn back…with a look of regret. "I didn't…I didn't mean what I said…how I said it."
"No. You meant it. What I would like to know…is why?"
Shioshiro lifts his hands to his face, brushing away the remaining tears and leaving streaks in their wake. Suddenly, he can no longer look Ran in the eye. "I was just…venting. I know you're right. This has all been…selfish of me, but…I had to come. And the fact that we can save so many more people, that's just a bonus. The sooner in the timeline Estet is destroyed, the more certain it is Kento will live. But…going there sooner…might also mean…he dies that much sooner. I know it's all a…stupid guess, but…I…I had to risk it. For me. For you…"
"For me. Shioshiro…if I have been a…poor father these past years…"
"You haven't been a bad father! You…you're just lonely. I…I know you don't mean to be so…distant. It's not your fault."
Ran nearly smiles. "You know those lines well. Been defending me for years, have you?"
Shioshiro looks up, ashamed. He feels as if he is speaking to the father he knows, instead of the young man he has come to know. He has never quite known how to speak to this father. Not since… "I'm sorry. I never meant to bring all this up. These years…they've been difficult, but…I know you love me. And I love you. I do. Of course I do. You've always been there when I needed you. Even now."
"But I'd be willing to bet…Ken was there when you didn't even know you needed him."
Face washed in anguish, Shioshiro feels as if he is steadily making things worse, whether he says something in defense or keeps silent.
"Shioshiro…tell me." Ran pleads. "Tell me what happens to Ken."
Eyes clenching shut, Shioshiro tries desperately to clear his mind. He knows he cannot avoid this. He has to come clean. Ran knows and he deserves to know everything.
Shioshiro slowly sits back down in the grass, as he had been when Ran first walked over. He motions for his father to do the same and Ran complies, patient though anxious to know the truth. It takes many moments before Shioshiro has found the strength to begin.
"I…I saw it all. I shouldn't have been there, I know it was stupid, but I was afraid. So…I snuck along. I hid. I followed you. Yotan and Omiji went in one direction. Nagi was with Farfarello and Sally. You and Kento…you had the back entrance. I went after you. I had this…horrible feeling…I'd never see you again…if I didn't follow…"
-----
"Siberian!" Ran calls ahead, desperately trying to maintain a whispering tone. "We work as a team, remember. Together. No heroics."
When Ken looks back over his shoulder, slowing his step to allow Ran to catch up, he casts his partner a luminous smile. "Yes, wife." he laughs, bringing one of his gloved hands close to his face and making a fist. The sharp shing of released metal brightens his smile even more. "Shit, it's been a while since we had a mission like this."
Ran sighs, violet eyes rolling in clear distaste. "I hope you can forgive it that our domestic lives have been hectic then. If I had it my way…we wouldn't even be here."
A sly grin picks at the corners of Ken's mouth. "You know you miss the excitement a little." He says. "I'm not saying I miss the kills, but a good old fashioned mission…it pumps the blood up a little."
"Quite a few things do that for you, if I remember. And I do…" Ran's voice is much more agreeable as he stares into Ken's eyes and leans forward, having long since caught up to Ken and now pressing him back against the wall they had been sneaking along. He places his hands on either side of Ken's head, seductively menacing. "Don't call me wife…wife."
Ken doesn't even lose a step. He leans into Ran, their lips hovering barely a breath apart. "Sure thing…master." he whispers, teasing his way closer still. "But we better get back to the mission."
When Ken pulls unfairly away, Ran does not get angry. His smile is predatory, however, as he follows after his companion. "You're making that up to me later, I hope you know."
The air is light around the pair as they continue into the compound. They are easy with one another and comfortable. Almost 15 years of 'married' life will do that to you, after all.
Truth be told there is a little bit of grey starting to sift its way into Ran's shaggy locks. Ken's, worn past his shoulders these days, is not yet suffering the same, and he lets very few days go by without pointing that out. They are both around 40, well aged, and still ready to dawn their assassin gear when necessary. Weiss may no longer exist, and Kritiker may be crippled, but the years have provided them enough resources to stage this attack, among others.
In truth, the mission is to gather info and take out only what operatives get in the way, hopefully lending them to be more prepared for a final strike that will wipe out what remains of Estet completely. They know their mission is very foolish, and possibly impossible, but they also know that they are the only ones who can stand against the organization with any hope of success.
It is a shame, for Ran and Ken especially, that their only son has decided to follow along this night.
As Ran and Ken breach the outer entrance and work their way further inside, they are met with no immediate resistance. They are tense and alert, but for all their training they do not realize they are being followed.
Shioshiro is young and small, and he is also very clever. He creeps, watching his fathers as he goes, and mirrors them for all their stealth. He knows he should not be there, but he follows behind regardless, always keeping them in sight.
A sharp turn takes his fathers out of sight a moment, however, and in a sudden panic he hurries ahead to catch up. Just as they return to view his failure to take things more slowly causes his feet to catch on the floor, and the young brunette goes flying face down into the cement. He gasps, the air rushing from his lungs. The skid, the thud, and even the air leaving his lips all seem deafening in the silence.
"You hear that?"
That's Ken's voice.
"Behind there. Slowly."
And Ran's.
Shioshiro is frozen on the cold floor. They will be so angry if they find him.
"Hey, who's there?"
That's…wait…Shioshiro does not recognize that voice.
"Ran, look out!" Shing. Clashing metal, again and again. Ken sounds panicked. "There's another one! There!" More clashing metal. Ran's sword meeting another's. Shing. Again. Again.
Shioshiro closes his eyes tight. He has seen his parents sparring, heard the sounds of their weapons clashing many times. It is one of his favorite things to do, watching them one-up each other for his amusement. Usually, when they have finished, they even teach him a move or two, but always with the same words of wisdom.
'Just remember, Hiro, you only pick up a weapon to defend. If you gotta attack, it's for life or death and nothing else. Okay?'
'Hai, Kento.'
'That's my boy…'He has to see. He has to know what is happening.
Pushing up from the ground, Shioshiro crawls carefully to the edge of a large crate and peeks around, getting a clear, full view of the ensuing fight. There are three men fighting his parents now. Together they are managing to fend them off, and he watches with some shock as Ken drives his claws into the chest of one attacker and throws the man to the floor.
Ran manages to slice deeply into another of the guards, but the third one spins away from him in his moment of distraction and is now pulling something from inside his coat to aim at Ken. Shioshiro sees what it is before the either of the others.
A gun.
Ken is unaware, his back still turned. He does not see it. He has no idea what is coming. Unfortunately…
As Shioshiro opens his mouth to scream a warning, suddenly running out into the open from his hiding place, the young boy does not see that his redheaded father has noticed the gun in time and is moving to knock it away. Ran has plenty of time to save Ken. More than enough.
"Kento!"
Ken turns, horror-struck in a heartbeat at hearing the voice of his son, his attention fully on the boy and nothing else. "Hiro!"
And at this…Ran hesitates. "Shioshiro?" He hesitates, turning to look where Ken is looking and sees that their son is running towards them, his ten-year-old attention all on Ken.
Ran remembers where his own attention is supposed to be by the look on Shioshiro's face, but it is not enough to get him to turn back before—
BANG.
"No!"
Everything stops. Everything freezes. Pauses. Everything…but the slow, steady fall of Ken's body to the ground below. The world is still stopped when the sickening smack of deadweight upon cement fills their ears, but not for long.
"Urrrg!" Ran cries with something inhuman pushing him forward, and his sword raises and strikes before the gunman has even lowered his arm or thought to turn around. Sword and gunman are soon forgotten, however, as Ran scrambles with very little grace over to his fallen comrade. "Ken!" he cries, shaking the smaller man by the shoulders. He would not be so rough…if not for the stillness of the other man's body. If not for the unseeing, still-open eyes of chocolate brown looking skyward…and not at him. "Ken! Ken, snap out of it, you're not--!" he stops himself, choking back another cry. "Ken. Ken!"
The sound of shuffling feet snaps Ran's head up to stare at the approaching figure. For all the pain in his chest, all the tears so easily falling from violet eyes, and all the trembling racking his body, he cannot stop himself from glaring daggers.
"Why…? Why did you come here!"
A sniffle. So fragile and quiet. "I…I was scared…I…I thought--"
"You thought what?" Ran snaps, too impatient to await an answer. "You know better! You know… And now…now…" His fists release their hold on Ken's jacket and clench tightly, the brunette left to fall lifelessly back to the ground.
Ken's head falls limp to the side, staring out blindly at Shioshiro, who cannot seem to look away. The poor boy nearly jumps out of his skin when his other father releases another cry.
"I was so close!" the redhead rants. "I almost had the guard down! Didn't you see me!" he yells, eyes still glaring at Shioshiro, even as he cries. Even as the boy cries. "I almost…" But Ran cannot say it. He cannot say the unspoken words, that he almost had the gunman, would have had him, if not for… "Abort. Repeat, abort the mission." Ran speaks over the intercom connecting him to the others. He is trying to find some sense of calm. Trying to find something else to focus on.
A small bit of static comes over the line. "Abyssinian? What's happened? Abort?" The voice belongs to Omi.
"Yes, abort. Just…do it. Everyone…back to the rendezvous point. Now."
"But…but why are we--"
"Just do it!" Ran almost has to bite his tongue to keep from yelling as loudly as he would like.
Omi's voice is hesitant but compliant nonetheless. "H-hai…Ran."
Hands still trembling, Ran clicks the intercom off again. He stares just beyond Ken's body, his gaze unfocused. If he looks at the body directly it will remind him, it will confirm the kill. He can't look. He can't.
And yet he knows he is the one who must lift his lover's dead form into his arms and carry him from the building to meet up with the others. He cannot leave Ken here. He won't. But to hold him when the brunette must already be turning cold…
"O-oran…Oran…"
Ran slowly lifts his head, anger faded to a dull ache…that will never go away. He has experienced this too often in his life to retain such anger anymore. His eyes catch like-violet and bring him suddenly back to himself. "Shioshiro…come here. It's all right." He moves away from the body just enough and gestures his son to him.
With the kindness he recognizes in his father restored, Shioshiro dives forward, landing in a heap against his Ran's chest. It is not father comforting son or son comforting father, but both, both squeezing the life from each other and both needing to be held.
Both with tears streaming from violets. Both shaking with the force of their sobs. And both…blaming themselves for what happened.
"I'm so…so sorry…" Shioshiro cries into the folds of his father's coat. With Ran crouched down and Shioshiro curled in against him, the boy's head fits under Ran's chin perfectly.
Ran merely holds tighter and strokes the soft brown hair of his child, even if the act feels perhaps a little too familiar at the moment. "Don't…don't be sorry. We should not have gone on this mission. Not when we have you…waiting at home for us."
"But I…I didn't wait. It's my…fault. I should have seen you…and…you could've…I…I shouldn't have…I…I'm so…sorry…" But none of the boy's words make any sense or come out as anything but sobs Ran wouldn't translate if he could. He does not need to.
"Shhh…It'll be…all right. I'm here. I'm still here." He whispers, cradling Shioshiro close. "But…we have to leave this place now. We have to…take Kento…and meet with the others now."
When Ran pulls his son from his shoulder and looks into that tear-soaked face, a face too young for such things, he wishes so dearly that he was strong enough to say something, strong enough to dry his own tears, strong enough to tell Shioshiro everything will be all right…and mean it.
But neither can say anything else. Not a single words passes either of their lips again, not when Ran has lifted Ken into his arms like the most morbid of wedding nights while his son clutches at his pant leg, and not when they reach the others and must see their shocked faces. Truth be told…
-----
"I didn't speak for a week. You didn't either. When we finally did…it wasn't to each other. You…finally snapped and went off at Omiji for pressuring you to open up, and…I cried in Aya-obasan's arms and told her everything that happened that night. I cried…but you never let me see you cry again. I saw you anyway, peaking in your room at night. You still cry…most nights. But you never let me see. You just smile this sad, bullshit smile and tell me what I want to hear, what you think I need to hear. But I know what you're really thinking. You're thinking…if only Shioshiro hadn't been there that night. If only stupid Hiro hadn't called out and distracted you. If only it hadn't been for Hiro…Kento would still be alive…"
Shioshiro gasps. Strong arms have embraced him from behind, his attention having been on the horizon with his back turned on his father as the story finished. He did not expect those arms so suddenly.
He did not expect them…at all.
"Ten years. Ten years you have lived believing I blame you for Ken's death. Oh, I am sorry. I wish you would have told me this sooner."
Shioshiro huffs with not even a shred of humor in his voice. "Right. Coz that would have been so easy. I should have opened with that, right? Yep, you're my dad. Oh, and I kill your lover in about 15 years, so sorry about--"
"That's enough."
Shioshiro is instantly silent. Ran's tone is far too serious and angry to be taken as anything lightly. But the arms around Shioshiro remain comforting. In fact, they seem to emanate an even larger sense of affection than before.
"You are my son. However you perceive me, do not for a moment think that I would patronize you. Ken's death was not your fault."
"But--"
"He was shot. He died. Nothing can change that you, this Shioshiro in my arms this moment, witnessed his father's death, but though I was not there, hearing the story is enough for me to know that I could never blame you for what happened."
Shioshiro struggles against those arms now, for though they mean to protect he feels that they are suddenly constricting. "Not directly. I know you'd never allow yourself to blame me. But subconsciously, in the back of your mind…you always will. It was my fault. You…have to resent me for what happened."
"Shioshiro…I do not resent you. I have not lived what your father has lived."
"I…know. I know that."
"Then our argument…really has no point to it, does it? No matter what I say, I really cannot speak for my future self, and no matter what you say, it is not me who needs to be convinced of anything. All we can do…is make sure your journey is not in vain." Ran releases Shioshiro, though the boy had since stopped struggling to be free of them, and stands. He reaches down to lift Shioshiro up, much more gently than he had before, and as he looks into somewhat shocked violet eyes that are now very red from crying, he gently reaches a hand to wipe the wetness away.
Shioshiro smiles. "We have to go inside. What am I supposed to say to everyone?"
Ran thinks about that a moment. "You tripped and had the wind knocked out of you by a rather nasty looking rock. You are ashamed to be so easily brought to tears, but will accept no teasing. Such teasing will no doubt ensue from Ken and Youji, anyway, but I'm sure you can ignore it, or at least come up with some smart comebacks."
If Ran didn't sound entirely serious, Shioshiro would swear his father must be joking. "You're…not going to have me tell them the truth?"
"Should I?"
"Well…I thought…you know…the whole…mission built on a lie thing…"
"What lie? You came to save us, ne? That, in actuality, is what you told us the night you first came here. That is the truth, is it not?"
Shioshiro opens his mouth to offer protest, but then realizes he would be protesting against the one thing he actually wants. He shakes his head, but a smile has managed to find its way back onto his face and remain there. "You really are a wonderful father, you know? Really."
Though the corners of Ran's mouth twitch a little further up, he realizes rather sadly that what he really wants to do…is break down in tears. "I hope I will be..."
-----
"Congratulations. On. Becoming. A. Man." Ken reads slowly from the top of his cake. He quirks an eyebrow. "Should I take that to have some sort of double meaning?"
Youji snickers. "That's a whole lot a 'yes'." The playboy laughs, holding his still injured side, though he can't seem to keep himself from laughing just as heartily as he would if he were in top shape. "May this cake, made with love in that very kitchen—just like a few other things were—be a symbol for us all…to be more spontaneous in life."
If Ken weren't still beaming from said lovemaking and spontaneity, he would sock Youji for such a comment. But as it stands, he doesn't mind all that much. "Here, here. Now…does that mean I get to eat my piece of cake off of Ra--"
"And we're back to uncomfortable!" Shioshiro speaks loudly, a grin from ear to ear as he leans over the table with a knife at the ready. "Who wants some cake? On a plate."
Ken only laughs, Youji too, while the youngest of their crew stifle giggles and groans alike, and a certain redhead looks on at it all…fondly.
Every time Shioshiro's gaze meets his, Ran offers a smile. The road is far too long now it seems with such frightening possibilities ahead, but for all the danger they all recognize in their missions, Ran has never once considered that one of them would actually not come back from one.
Now…he isn't so sure, but he isn't about to let Shioshiro know just how scared he really is to face the upcoming and final mission. Estet. It means power like nothing they have faced. More than Schwartz, Farblos, and so much else. But they have no choice now. The stage is set.
But for what ending?
"Gotta run, boys. My lady awaits me."
"Youji-kun, you can at least stay for cake."
"Can't risk it, Omiichi. Might be my future wife out there."
Omi rolls his eyes. "Sure she is."
Ran, Ken, and Shioshiro keep their mouths shut.
"Don't wait up, boys." Youji calls as he heads out the door, and not a single voice rises to stop him. "Aya, you be sure and give Ken his present, okay?" the blonde adds just before slipping outside.
A blush spreads across Ken's face at the thought. Ran…nearly laughs aloud.
The redhead catches Shioshiro's eye for the millionth time tonight. There isn't much time before they leave for Germany. Not in the grand scheme of things. And not when reaching their destination has the very real possibility of being the last place any of them set their feet.
Yes…birthday present, Ran thinks, and he does his best to send a silent message across the room through the met gaze of him and his son. 'Whatever the outcome of this, not a one of us will leave this earth, especially not Ken, without knowing how much he means to me. I promise…'
-----Bonus: Ken's Birthday Present-----
Ken is laying with his covers at his waist and his arms behind his head as he stares at the ceiling and thinks about the wonderful birthday he just had. He hadn't wanted it to be a big deal, and it really hadn't been made out to be. Omi had Nagi bake a cake for after dinner in celebration, a few words were said, a few teasing remarks, and that was it. Just as Ken wanted.
More than he wanted, to be honest, because he was sharing it with those he cares for most, and the one he cares for most of all is finally and completely…his.
Not that sex should be a clincher, Ken thinks, but…it was pretty amazing. And knowing that he is only the second person Ran has ever been with. Knowing that although his last birthday had left him with many unfulfilled wishes, this one…has him basking in the glow of requited love.
Life couldn't get much better.
Knock. Knock.
Ken looks at the door with a scowl. Everyone is in bed, right? He had only just crawled under the covers himself, but…he hopes there is nothing wrong.
That sudden, unwanted thought has Ken sitting up in a heartbeat.
"Hai? Everything okay?" he calls.
There is a slight pause…and then the door opens in reply. "You worry too much sometimes." Ran smiles softly, coming inside and shutting the door behind him.
He too is dressed for bed, wearing only a pair of plain silk boxers and an open shirt. Ken is thankful for his own boxers, because anything tighter would be considerably more tight after catching sight of the look in Ran's eyes.
"There isn't much time before this all ends." Ran speaks, walking slowly over to the bed. He does indeed sport a small smile, but his expression is still strangely unreadable, and yet…longing at the same time. "And after all…none of us know how things will end. So…"
Ken gulps. Ran is practically predatory. "So…?"
Pushing Ken back so that the brunette is once again lying down, Ran moves around to the foot of the mattress and lifts up the bottom of the blanket. "So…since going slow has very much been thrown out the window…there really is no reason for us not to take advantage of what time we have." Ran crouches closer to the tunnel he has created by lifting the sheet. "Logical…don't you agree?"
"Ahhh…so…you…you're gonna…"
"I'm…" Ran says, his expression now something Ken wouldn't have even recognized as Ran a few months ago. "…I'm going to give you your birthday present." With that said, Ran suddenly disappears from view and all Ken can see is a slight lump climbing up towards him from the foot of the bed.
"Aya…I mean…Ran…what…exactly are you--shit!" Ken's head is thrown back, his eyes wide. But he is seeing nothing but stars.
Ran's mouth has him. Through the fabric of his boxers, yes, but it has him. And holy fuck does it feel good.
"Shit…shit! R-r-ran!"
Ran complies with a nip of his teeth before pulling away. "Do keep your voice down. We wouldn't want anyone barging in here thinking you were in danger, now would we?" he teases, before promptly going back to his other teasing by taking a mouthful of fabric along with what lies beneath it.
A small part of Ken doesn't know if he should simply lie back and enjoy or start calling for help. Ran wasn't quite this playful before. In fact, Ken has never known Ran to be playful. Ever. What the hell has gotten into the man? Not that Ken entirely minds…
And the fact that he can't see Ran since the redhead is hidden under the covers, almost makes the whole thing that much more thrilling.
"Damn it…I don't know if I can hold out too long…with this new side of you out on the prowl." Ken pants, "But it is fucking hot!"
Ran chuckles at this, resulting in a humming vibration that pulses through Ken's shorts.
The brunette nearly squeals. "Quiet? How…the hell…am I supposed to stay quiet!"
Suddenly, Ran's mouth is gone again and there is a significant amount of rustling beneath the covers. A moment later a white hand appears, bringing with it a pair of black boxers.
Definitely not Ken's.
And as they are stuffed into Ken's mouth and the brunette breathes in Ran's distinctive scent…it is official that this is the best birthday Ken has ever, ever had.
Ran's mouth returns, still latching on through fabric, and with a hand on either side of Ken's hips…he begins to suck. For Ken the sensation is pure agony. The torturous amount of wetness getting through, the fabric rubbing against his skin, and knowing that through that small bit of fabric is Ran's warm, moist mouth…it's going to take all of Ken's willpower to last five minutes.
The whimpers that fall from Ken's lips are muffled cries that only egg Ran on. Soon, Ken is clutching back at the sheet beneath him, half wanting to just arch into the feeling of it all, and half wanting to look down and pull the covers aside in order to get a look at what Ran is doing to him.
"Don't you dare move that sheet." Ken hears Ran say, as if the redhead had been reading his mind. "When you can't see, you rely that much more on what you can feel. So think about that…close your eyes…and focus…on feeling…this…"
Slowly, Ken's boxers are slid down trembling thighs, past taut calves, and off past his feet to disappear. Ken doesn't really care where they have gone; he's far too busy feeling. And what he feels…is a soft, thin hand traveling up his thigh and working its way between his legs to grab at velvet, while something wonderfully wet begins attacking his very stiff and throbbing length.
He has never felt something like this. Ken is all about visuals, always has been. With any other lover who he became intimate enough for this level, he always had to watch, figuring that by seeing them work him he got that much more worked up over the whole thing.
Clearly, he was wrong.
Ken finds himself biting down on the cloth in his mouth. He breathes deep. Ran. Everything is Ran. He can taste, smell, feel him everywhere.
The wetness is matched with warm lips, encircling him, climbing up, taking him deeper, and all the while there is that hand massaging just between his legs.
'Oh, fuck, Ran…deeper…please, God, take me deeper…' Ken thinks, wordlessly voicing his breathless request, and praying that Ran understands even with the fabric muffling what he says.
And oh does the redhead understand. Deeper. Deeper. Wet and warmth surround Ken completely as he disappears inside his lover fully, not seeing Ran take him all the way, but feeling it, knowing it. And all the while that hand, the tongue, those lips. Sucking him dry.
Ken's hips raise of their own accord, desperate for as much as can be given, thrusting upwards. Ran adjusts to this need, this unstoppable movement from Ken, and works with it, taking Ken in as deeply as he can with each thrust, until the rhythm, steady at first and then faster, faster, deep and deeper still, has Ken panting and gasping, and crying out into the fabric in his mouth.
Though no discernable name leaves Ken's lips, Ran decides he is quite certain he heard something to his liking fill the air as Ken released. He liked it so much that he is quite content as he laps at Ken's now limp appendage to clean it of what may remain after he so eagerly drank the man down.
And Ken can think of nothing more perfect as Ran slowly works his way upwards with nips and licks and perfect kisses, until their lips and hips are aligned and Ran, hard and pulsing himself now, presses against Ken's thigh, speaking of a very promising night still ahead.
tbc...
A/N: Man, did that last chapter get a response or what? You guys are the best. So many reviews, I just started feeling so guilty, I had to get the chapter done. Hope it was good. I rather enjoyed it myself. The truth revealed about KenKen. Pretty awful, I know. It makes me wonder what you're all imagining for the ending. Some have made guesses, none have guessed entirely correct, but all for the better, Surprises are more fun. Next chapter will have Brad and Schu back as a little preview, and will get things rolling into the final mission. Once this hits...its all down hill, so hang on for the ride of your lives. It is my promise that this will be finished before September 11th. No, it has nothing to do with the Twin Towers thing, that's just the date I'm going down to the cities before flying out for school on the 12th. I am spending Fall Semester in Norwich, England. Anyone a Brit? I'm really excited. And if I finish, I can get this baby done within a year of when it started. Yay!
If there were questions left unanswered, ask again, coz I gotta post and go to bed. It's 2am! Love you all so much. A million thankies, and welcome to all the newbies. I'm just getting warmed up.
Crim