Disclaimer: see chapter 1.

Ok, Aya really goes against the norm here people and Yohji is none too happy. Enjoy!

Caval: What can I say? Great minds think alike! Aya in tight clothes and a collar is just too tempting. I'm looking forward to the next chapter of Thorns. Hurry please.

Breaking Free

Chapter 4

Aya allowed Ryo to lead him out of the club and to his car. It wasn't a limo, but he had a driver and there was a privacy screen in the sedan which was already raised. They settled into the leather seats and the car pulled away.

"Drink?"

"No thank you."

Ryo reached out to lightly caress Aya's cheek as he leaned in closer to the assassin.

"You are so beautiful, Kisho. Dancing with you tested all my willpower."

Aya closed his eyes and leaned into the caress. "You didn't seem to be holding back to me."

"On the contrary."

Ryo's lips brushed against Aya's and the assassin gasped. This was taken as an invitation and Ryo slipped his tongue into Aya's mouth.

Ryo tasted of whatever liquor he had been drinking. It was sweet and intoxicating and Aya returned the kiss, bringing his hands up to pull Ryo's hair free and run his fingers through the silky strands. This is about the mission. This is about saving lives and stopping this bastard. This is not for my enjoyment. This is not about Yohji. Aya moaned as Ryo deepened the kiss and moved his hand slowly down Aya's side and then back up under his shirt, searching fingers finding and pinching a nipple.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Oh my god. Is Aya…."

Ken's words died in his throat when he saw the look on Yohji's face in the rearview mirror, deadly jade eyes warning him not to say another word.

"I-I'm sure it s-sounds worse than….than wh-what's actually happening." Omi tried to reassure Yohji, but even he didn't believe his own words. He turned the volume down and plugged his own headset into the console so only he could hear what was going on. By the look on Yohji's face, the man was about to go ballistic if he kept having to hear Aya and the target. Is he jealous that Aya got the guy's attention and not him, or is it something else? I know Yohji hooked up with someone because I heard him say somebody was driving him crazy. Is he mad at having to leave that someone behind? But then, why was he outside when Aya left?

The atmosphere in the van was tense as they followed the sedan into the neighborhood known as the High Grounds. It was a fairly new neighborhood having been established, unofficially, only ten years ago. A real estate developer built his home there and decided to turn it into an exclusive neighborhood for the rich. It earned the nickname the High Grounds not only because it was a neighborhood full of rich people, but the land was actually elevated as well, so the houses looked down upon the surrounding area.

"Ok guys, I think we've found our destination." Ken stopped the van in a rare dark space a few yards from the gated entrance to the target's home. "Now what Omi?"

"We wait. There's security all over the place and we'll risk Aya's cover if we try to move in before his signal."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aya cursed himself for making out with Ryo instead of paying attention to where they were going. Damn it. What the hell is wrong with me tonight? At least I know I have back up. He looked out over the grounds as they walked up the front steps.

The grounds were impeccably manicured with spot gardens and a winding driveway. Aya could see a gazebo and lake off in the distance, lit by spot lights.

"You coming?"

Strong arms wrapped around his waist from behind but this time Aya didn't close his eyes and lean into the embrace like he wanted to. I have to stay focused now. It's mission time. I have to kill this man.

Aya turned and smiled at Ryo, his fingertips playing across the other man's smiling lips.

"Lead the way."

Ryo led the way into his spacious home, not stopping until they reached what looked to be a study of sorts. One wall was a bookcase and the others were decorated with a few paintings and such. There was a fireplace, two sofas, a few scattered end tables and two chairs. A desk was tucked away in the corner, almost as an afterthought.

Aya maintained his position in the middle of the room, looking around for possible cameras, weapons and alternate escape routes. He was surprised that Ryo brought him to this room and not his bedroom, but a bedroom would offer even less in the way of makeshift weapons.

"Drink?"

"Yes. Whatever you're having."

Aya wandered the room now, pretending to examine various objects, but all the while watching Ryo to make sure he wasn't about to drug him. Ryo poured the drinks and went to sit on the sofa. He didn't call Aya over, he just watched the man move about the room. My gods, I've never seen another human being move like that. So graceful, fluid, and yet he's strong as well. Ryo's smile got a little bigger as he recalled the ride home, the young man pushing him back and sitting up to straddle his lap as he devoured his lips. Ryo had fought to keep himself in control and not take the passionate young man right there in the car. Instead, he held fast to the lean, muscular thighs, his hands playing alternately with Aya's ass and his growing erection. It'll be such a shame to have to turn him over for somebody else to play with. But at least I'll get to play with him until the next auction.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Anything, Omi?"

"Nothing. This guy must have some sort of dampening field for his house. Makes sense if he's making calls about slave trading. Sorry guys."

"So what do we do now?"

"How long has it been?" Yohji asked the question, already knowing the answer. Ever since they'd lost contact with Aya, he had been very well aware of the time.

"Twenty minutes."

"We need to go get him."

"Yohji, wait. I think we should give it a little more time. Aya is very capable of---"

"He doesn't have a weapon Omi! He's in there alone, no weapon, no back-up, with some bastard who wants to screw him and sell him into slavery!"

Ken put a hand on Yohji's shoulder, his voice calm. Poor Omi looked like he was ready to shrink away and disappear under the older assassin's glare.

"Calm down, Yohji. We're all concerned about Aya. But Omi's right. And you know Aya wouldn't go in without a weapon. He's the best out of all of us." Ken maneuvered so he was between Omi and Yohji, making sure he made eye contact with the enraged man. "Let's give Aya ten more minutes before we go in, ok?"

Yohji just snorted and looked away, his arms crossed over his chest, fists clenched. Omi seemed to relax a little and after Ken ruffled his hair and offered a smile, the youngest assassin gave him a small smile and returned to trying to recapture a connection with their teammate.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aya had joined Ryo on the sofa and was taking a sip of his drink when the other man came up on Aya's side and brushed back some hair, kissing the back of his neck. Aya put the glass down slowly, still formulating a plan in his head. He had a small blade strapped to his leg, but he had to get himself into a position to use it, as well as keep Ryo from discovering it in the meantime. This is going to be tricky.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"That's it! I'm not waiting any longer!"

Yohji burst out of the van, followed shortly by Ken and Omi. As the threesome headed cautiously towards the gate, Yohji readied his weapon and a few subtle flashes of silver later, the two guards were strung up tight. Ken immediately moved in and punched one of them with Omi tranquilizing the other with a dart, cutting off any alarm they might have raised.

Yohji opened the gate and started to stride up the driveway. Please be ok Aya. If he did anything to you….

As they rounded the last bend, Yohji could see the well lit house looming before them. He stopped and turned to his teammates.

"Ok. I'll go in through the front, you two flank me and keep me covered."

Omi and Ken nodded their assent and turned to follow Yohji to the house. After only a few steps, Omi walked right into Yohji's back.

"Oh! Sorry Yo--"

"Aya."

"Huh?"

Omi looked around the frozen assassin and saw a silhouetted man walking towards them from the house. The figure definitely moved like Aya. Omi had yet to meet someone that moved like their leader. It was indescribable other than to say it was mesmerizing.

Yohji finally regained his senses and started to approach Aya, but the shadowed figure raised its hand to stop his progress. When Aya finally reached Yohji, he could see the amethyst eyes glinting in the moonlight.

"Let's go."

"Aya, what---"

"Now!"

The rest of the Weiss team stood still and watched their leader walk down the driveway and become engulfed in the shadows. When they reached the van, Aya was cleaning his blade.

No one said anything. Ken got into the driver's seat and started to head home. Omi began to pack up the ear pieces and tracking devices. Yohji just stared at Aya. And Aya just sat there, eyes closed, arms folded over his chest.

It was Omi who finally had the guts to say anything to the reticent assassin.

"Um, Aya? Is your hair….black?"

Omi flinched when Aya opened his eyes to look at him. "Yes."

"W-why did you…?"

"Impulse."

"Impulse!" This time it was Ken who chimed in from the driver's seat. "You're not impulsive Aya. You plan out---"

"Shut up, Ken."

Yohji's voice wasn't loud; it was quiet, low and forceful. The brunette turned his attention back to the road and the drive home continued in silence. Aya could feel jade eyes on him, and he kept his head turned, staring blankly out the back window.

To be continued….