Disclaimer: see chapter 1.

Ugh! It took so long to post this chapter and I humbly apologize for the wait! I hope you're still enjoying the story and I swear the next chapter will be posted much faster (it's already written).

Breaking Free

Chapter 8

When Ken didn't return with Yohji in tow and informed him that he had sent the older assassin to the doctor's office, Aya was furious. He could just picture the slacker smiling as he drove down the road, patting himself on the back for fooling the gullible Ken into thinking he was sick.

Ever since that night, he had wanted nothing to do with Yohji. Once he saw that the playboy was treating him like a one-night stand, Yohji ceased to exist in Aya's eyes.

He couldn't help but notice that Yohji's socializing had increased. He was going out to bars and clubs on a much more frequent basis. And Aya was disgusted whenever he woke up in the early morning hours to hear Omi helping an unsteady Yohji up the stairs and into bed. He comes home too drunk and oversexed to even make it to bed by himself. Bastard.

"Aya? You ok over there?"

The sound of Ken's voice brought Aya out of his internal rant and he looked across the store to see concerned blue eyes gazing at him.

"Fine. why?"

"Well, I was just wondering what that rose did to deserve such treatment?"

Aya looked down and found a pink rose crushed within his clenched fist. He walked over and dumped it in the garbage and continued work without another word to Ken.

The brunette was worried about his teammate and after witnessing the latest scene, he decided to risk the redhead's wrath to find out what was going on.

"Um, Aya? You wanna talk about what's been going on with you lately?"

Aya whirled on Ken and glared.

"Nothing is going on with me, Ken."

"So your decreased appetite and cold attitude is all in my head?"

"……."

"You're not fooling anyone, Aya. Neither is Yohji."

"Yohji? What does he have to---?"

"He's acting weird just like you. Haven't you noticed? Jeez, Aya, you are the team leader, you should really keep a better eye on things."

"What's going on with Yohji?"

"He's not eating, he's depressed, he's going out more and he's sleeping on the sofa in the mission room. Omi has to drag him upstairs almost every night."

"He sleeps on the mission sofa?"

"Yeah."

"So when he comes home from the club, he's not stinking drunk and reeking of cheap perfume?"

"No. He mostly smells like cigarettes and he sighs a lot. According to Omi anyway. But I don't want to talk about Yohji right now. I want to know what the hell is going on with you."

"I'm fine. I'm just….tired."

"Yohji told Omi the same thing and I think you're both full of shit. Ok, maybe Yohji was telling the truth because he really looked out of it this morning, but-----"

Aya let loose a growl and turned on his heel, stomping back into the workroom. At the mention of Yohji's ploy to get out of work today Aya's rage returned and he spun on his heels and retreated to the storage area in the back of the shop.

He grabbed some boxes and began reorganizing things that were already in order, just to give himself something to do. He thought about what Ken said about Yohji and it only served to confuse him. So even though he's going out more, he's drinking less and not sleeping around? And why is he sleeping on the mission sofa? What's wrong with his bed? And come to think of it, I did notice his clothes weren't as tight as they usually are.

Aya dropped a box and shook his head free of the image of Yohji in tight leather pants and nothing else. No mater how hard he tried to pretend Yohji didn't exist, his mind would betray him and slip images of the man into his mind's eye and his body would immediately react. Everyone and everything, even his body, was against him. I've got to get rid of you, Yohji. I'll go crazy at this rate.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was dinnertime and the meal had started out with the usual banter between Ken and Omi with Yohji and Aya silently eating. Every time Yohji hazarded a glance at the redhead across from him all he saw was a bowed head as Aya ate his dinner.

"So what did the doctor say? I heard you come in and go upstairs but I figured I'd let you rest."

"You're sick, Yotan?"

Yohji waved off their concern. "He said it wasn't anything more than exhaustion. He told me to rest up and make sure that I start taking vitamins."

"Hmph."

All eyes turned to Aya who was now glaring at Yohji. He had decided to ignore Yohji's very presence and he was managing to partially block out the blonde when he heard the pathetic lie and he couldn't help himself.

"You're a liar, Kudoh. You didn't see any doctor."

Yohji jumped to his feet and glared at the redhead whose stance matched his own in the blink of an eye.

Neither man said a word and neither looked like they were going to be backing down anytime soon. This situation had the potential to become very loud and very angry very fast and Ken and Omi knew it.

"Ok guys, just drop it." Ken looked from one man to the other. "Please? We're eating dinner."

"Not until I get an apology."

"Aya---"

"Shut up, Ken. I'm not apologizing. Not to this selfish bastard."

"Self—You prick!"

Yohji lunged around the table and grabbed Aya by his collar bringing the man to within inches of his own face. By now, Ken and Omi were out of their chairs as well. Yohji and Aya continued to glare at each other and Ken could have sworn they were having a silent argument the way their eyes glinted and jerked and their faces contorted slightly, as if reacting to the other's silent statement. Ken was standing a few feet away, ready to break up a fight should one break out. And right about now that looked highly likely.

"Yotan….please don't fight."

Omi's worried voice broke through and Yohji turned to see those big blue eyes that he couldn't deny. He let go of Aya with a little shove and smiled as he ruffled the sandy brown mop of hair. "Ok, chibi. For you."

Omi smiled, Ken relaxed, Aya left the room and Yohji sat down with a heavy sigh. He wasn't sure if he could eat right now. His stomach was in knots and he was so upset he was shaking so he sat there, hands clenched in his lap. He heard Aya upstairs and knew the assassin was pissed if he wasn't bothering to move around in his usual silent mode. They all looked up at the ceiling fifteen minutes later when a door slammed. It was quickly followed by the sound of feet stomping down the stairs, down the hallway and out the door. When the side door slammed shut Ken and Omi looked to Yohji.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing. Aya is just being an overly sensitive prick. Not to mention he accused me of being a liar." Yohji didn't want this conversation to continue. He got up, plate half empty and began to clean his dish and glass.

"But Yotan, I've never seen you and Aya get so mad at each other that you practically come to blows. I really think there's something wrong with Aya. Ever since he…made out with that guy---"

Yohji whirled around, glaring at Omi. "He did those things for a mission, Omi! He didn't want that creep. It was just a mission so drop it! If you guys are so concerned about Aya, why don't you talk to him instead of me? What do I know about Aya? Nothing!"

Yohji threw down the dishtowel and stomped upstairs leaving a shocked Ken and Omi at the table. He went to his room to grab his keys and cigarettes but stopped upon entering realizing something was wrong. He looked around the room, scrutinizing every little thing and then he came upon the closet. The doors were not shut completely. One door was sticking out a little not having clicked into the latch.

He made his way to the closet and looked inside. Everything seemed to be in place, but he knew he wouldn't have left the door like that. It was a strange habit of his to have doors either completely open or completely shut. No exceptions. A weird habit he didn't even remember picking up, but he couldn't remember a time when he didn't practice the habit.

He closed the door properly and frowned as he walked down the stairs and out to his car. As he drove into the downtown club district, it suddenly occurred to him why his closet door wasn't closed. Aya. But why would he be in my closet? Was he snooping? No, not his style. An idea suddenly occurred to him and he hung a u-turn at the next light.

To be continued…..