Disclaimer: see chapter 1.
The morning after with classic misunderstandings.
Breaking Free
Chapter 6
Yohji woke up the next morning to find himself alone in bed. He wasn't surprised. Aya wouldn't be caught dead in Yohji's room, much less naked and wrapped within his arms. The assassin stretched and reached for his cigarettes, not willing to face the day without nicotine in his system. Who am I kidding? I'm dreading facing Aya. What was that last night? Was that really him, or was he just trying to prove something? Guess I won't know until I get my ass downstairs to face the music.
By the time Yohji entered the kitchen, Omi was cleaning up breakfast and no one else was to be found.
"Good morning, Yotan! I saved you a plate of food. It's in the fridge."
"Thanks, chibi."
He ruffled the young assassin's hair as he walked by to retrieve his food. One spin through the microwave and Yohji was sitting at the table with a hot plate of food.
"Any coffee?"
"No. Ken and Aya drank the whole pot."
"Aya drank coffee?"
Omi just shrugged a she continued to clean up the breakfast dishes. "I know, I thought it was strange too. But when I asked him, he just grumbled something about not getting any sleep last night. Anyway, I'm headed for the library and you better get eating because your shift starts in an hour. See ya later!"
No sleep, huh? Can't say I had the same problem. As a matter of fact, I slept better last night than I have in ages. Yohji yelled out a quick goodbye to the retreating assassin, but he found he couldn't tear his eyes from the floor. He stared at the mint green linoleum, hearing the moans, feeling the hot skin and hungry lips and smelling the sweat mixed with sex. Aya, what did we do last night?
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Yohji put on his apron and took a slow, deep, calming breath before stepping into the store. Here goes nothing. He walked in and gave everyone his best smile and greeting.
"Good morning, everyone!"
He winked at a group of girls, waved to Ken and took his position behind the register before looking for a familiar head of crimson hair. When he found Aya, he fought tooth and nail to hide his disappointment. Aya wasn't paying him a bit of attention. He was over in the corner on a stepstool, pruning some hanging baskets. I don't even get a glare? What's wrong with this picture?
Yohji had to tend to a giggling blonde at the register and didn't catch Aya peering at him from between the foliage of the hanging plant. Why is he so chipper this morning? Isn't he ashamed of what happened last night? Maybe he's just acting normal to save us any embarrassment in front of Ken. Aya stepped down and headed towards the workroom to put the stool away, intending to catch Yohji's eye and draw him into the back room when he caught Yohji's conversation with the young lady at the counter.
"Oh, Yohji you're such a tease!"
"Would I tease such a lovely lady?" More giggles ensued as Yohji winked at the girl. "I have dedicated my life to making the women of the world happy and I'll do it one woman at a time until you're all satisfied."
Aya rolled his eyes and decided now was not a good time to speak with the blonde playboy. He let the door shut behind him, drowning out the rest of Yohji's pick-up speech. He's so full of shit. Yeah, he'll take care of 'em all right. He'll blaze a trail of one-night stands around the globe. As Aya reached for the doorknob to go back out into the store, his words came ricocheting back and they hurt more than he cared to admit.
….a trail of one-night stands…..
Aya felt the heat spread to his cheeks at the thought of Yohji considering him just another conquest. That's why he's acting normal this morning. I was so stupid to think last night would mean anything to him other than getting laid! Aya's grip tightened on the doorknob and he could feel a cold pit forming in his stomach. His body was shaking in anger and tension, his knuckles white from gripping the doorknob. I have to regain control. I will not let him think he has affected me in the slightest. I won't give him the satisfaction.
When Aya re-entered the flower shop he ignored Yohji completely, choosing to approach an elderly woman at the refrigerator and assist her in selecting some flowers. The morning continued with girls coming and going, Yohji becoming outwardly belligerent at Aya's blatant dismissal of his very existence, Aya choosing to ignore Yohji while at the same time being more helpful with customers than he ever had and Ken getting more and more worried as the minutes ticked by. Ken just prayed that nothing would happen until Omi got home. At least then he would have the other assassin's arrows handy to sedate their teammates should a fist fight break out.
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Aya just stared at his lunch. He'd been like that since they sat down to eat almost twenty minutes ago. Ken was considering trying to get the man to talk about whatever was on his mind, but then he remembered the last time Omi had tried and was sent away crying.
Ken finished his lunch, washed his dish and left the kitchen to go back to work leaving the statue that was Aya still sitting at the table staring into oblivion. There's no way I'm going to tell him to get back to work. I like my head where it is thank you.
Aya was aware that Ken was watching him. He was also aware of how many times he chewed each bite of his sandwich and how many sips it took for him to finish his drink. He was aware of how many steps it took Ken to go from the refrigerator to the counter, the counter to the table and the sink to the door. Aya was aware of a lot of things around him. He had to be. If he didn't concentrate on these things, his mind would start bombarding him with images and sounds from last night. His body, suddenly acting out and refusing to obey him, would react to his mind's replay of events and Aya would find himself in aroused agony.
He didn't get to sleep until an hour before sunrise all because he couldn't maintain control over his mind and body. He lay within Yohji's arms until he was sure the man was in a deep sleep. Then he extricated himself oh so carefully and went back to his room where he tried to read, surf the net, meditate, anything to keep his mind and/or body busy. When he finally gave up and went to lay down in his own bed it felt cold and too big for just him. Damn Yohji to hell. If he hadn't said anything….if he hadn't danced with me….if he hadn't kissed me….
Aya growled and sent his fist smashing into the table as he stood up and made his way to the sink to clean his dishes. He hadn't finished his lunch and knew that he wouldn't no matter how long he sat there. As he stood at the sink, rinsing his plate his mind recalled the heat coming from Yohji's body as he stood behind him here at the counter. He could feel the ghost sensation of soft lips across on his neck. He shivered and turned around, trying to escape the memories but came face to face with the living breathing presence of the man he was trying to banish from his mind.
Amethyst met jade in a seemingly emotionless stare. Both men keeping their emotions hidden from the other for their own reasons. Finally, Aya made to leave the kitchen and as he passed Yohji, the tall blonde grabbed Aya's bicep, halting his retreat.
"Aya, we need--"
"Stay away from me."
The venom in Aya's voice shocked Yohji enough that his grip loosened and Aya was able to walk away without further incident. What the hell is wrong with him? He leaves me alone in bed, ignores me all morning, and then speaks to me as if I'm Taktori himself? What the hell did I do wrong!
Yohji walked to the refrigerator and opened the door, staring unseeing at its contents. After a few moments he closed the door and opened the freezer, grabbing the frosty bottle of liquor, deciding he didn't want to eat his lunch today, but in fact preferred to drink it after his little "talk" with Aya.
To be continued….