Author's Notes and Warnings: Hi, minna! Wow, I've just posted the WK section two weeks ago and here I am done with this chapter already! I must say I love writing this chapter very much and I hope you like reading it too! Please let me know what you think of Ceilen and Tryffin! *hugs Chichiri then glances nervously at the growling Tasuki* Um..gomen… *moves quickly away from the kawaii monk*

I really hope I can produce future chapters as quickly but baka me went and posted a GW fic so now I have 3 stories up at the same time. *sighs* But I'm glad I did. It was sitting in my computer too long, no da!

* SPECIAL Notes for people who don't read the WK section: Read it. (just kidding) Ceilen is discovered to be an ex agent of Kritiker, an elite crime fighting organization. His code name was Peregrine and he left them 8 years ago because he'd found some high level corruption. Manx is from that organization and had just asked the Weiss boys to help out Ceilen.

This chapter contains bad language, slight lime and incredibly hot bishounens. Enjoy!

Thank you everyone who reviewed the last chapter as well as the WK section!

Kren: Thank you!

Kaji The Harlequin: Confused? Sorry! If you need help in clarifying anything, please email me and I'll be more than happy to explain them to you. Thank you!

Kawaii: *nods sympathetically* I have the same problem with FF.net, no da! Wai! Thank you! Aya and Ken are great and I'm so glad you like them!

Shadow Priestess: This chapter contains lots of Chichiri, no da! ((hugs)) thank you!

Shadow Myst: LOL, thank you very, very, very much!

Baka-chan: LOL, thanks for chasing the evil flamer for me! ((hugs)) I guess the combination of you and Wufei is too much for the guy, huh? Arigatou, no da!

Lola: *hugs Lola right back* Thank you! Ooooh, I love this Chichiri too! As for the bishies going stir crazy…I'm afraid this is just the beginning! *cackles madly*

Ayako: LOL, yeah, I think two redheads would be a bit much in a relationship, ne? But they do make a pretty mental picture. Thank you!

Krysana: *Giggles* Ken WILL give Ran some…just not yet, ne? Not enough torture. *lol* Thank you for all you comments and mails! But most of all, thanks for the cool pics to fuel my imagination, ne? (((((HUGS))))

Hcbenitez: LOL, better than a sugar high? Aw…*blushes* Thank you!

Whisper Reilman: Hai, hai, WK chapter is done, no da! Thank you for your wonderful comments! Makes me want to write a whole lot more, no da! And I'm writing as quickly as I can. *grins*

Sakata: LOL, I can see what you mean about the cat in heat thing…yeah, that's Tas-chan alright! *drools* Thanks!!!

Midori Natari Himura: *screams* I love the cold Chichiri too! And Ran, and Yuki, and Saitou, and…er…gomen, ne? I got carried away. But I do know what you mean! And I'm the other biggest sap alive so ALL the boys will get to snuggle later, ne? Thank you!

Hana no Ceres: Wai! Ceilen is scaring you? LOL, he's the good guy, no da! But that's okay, because he's pretty lethal… I'm still debating whether or not to do a full lemon for Ran and Tryffin and since I haven't decided, I had Ken interrupt them… What do you think? Lemon? No lemon?

Xellas: What can I say that I haven't said in our numerous emails? (((HUGS))) Thanks for everything, if this story is good, it's because of all your inputs, no da!!!!

Mikazuki: Heh, heh, heh, yeah…I do like torturing them… Well, I love to tease Tasuki anyway, the real tortures I usually reserve for Chichiri… I know, I'm horrible but he handles it so well… Thank you for your reviews!

Keimei: Answer: Yes, it's a reincarnation fic. I don't do AU except for the reincarnation stuff… I normally have them get this déjà vu thing, it adds to the emotional ties, in my opinion. I love predestined love stories… *sigh* Thank you!

FireKat: LOL, thank you! About Ran being er…promiscuous, I've read too many fics where, at 20, the boy is still a virgin. I'm sure 20 year-old virgins are not rare but have you SEEN Ran? The boy is HOT! Um, not that those fics weren't good; I just thought I'll let him have some fun for a change, that's all. Thank you so much for liking it!

Ryo-chan: *grins* Yep, you can bet your little tushie I'll make it up to Tas-chan! Thank you, sweety!

GreenFire: LOL, love your little song btw! I hope I haven't offended any redheads out there by portraying the two I have as…um…fun loving! Yeah, that's it! *giggles* Arigatou, no da!

Special thanks to Hitari-chan as always for betaing this chapter!

Now on to the story!


A Fine Line - FY: Chapter 3 - Of Past Deeds and Present Doubts

By Moonraven

(Day 2 around midnight, immediately after Manx's discussion with Weiss and a while after Ceilen left Tryffin)

Manx walked out of the Koneko feeling tired and worn. She hoped that the men of Weiss would make the right decision. She knew they were good, conscientious men and had little doubt that they would carefully look into this mess. In a way, she was glad that they knew everything…well not everything, Kritiker was too large and too old for them to know all the secrets but this particular one was really taxing on her. It was a great relief to be able to share it with them.

As she neared her car, Manx noticed a tall shadow falling across her path. Instinctively she felt for her gun and since the shadow remained still, she continued toward her car without drawing her weapon. When she reached her car, she walked towards the driver side, putting the car between her and whoever cast the shadow. She looked up and saw a man standing on top of the wall looking down at her. His back was to the bright street light, making his face obscured in the shadow. There was something familiar about the posture and the way the man felt. Manx was in this business long enough to sense an enemy, this man did not feel like an enemy.

"What do you want?" She asked sharply. She didn't need to look around to know that the street was empty. It was late and around this area, people didn't move around so much at night.

The man didn't answer but he dropped casually from the wall and landed easily on his feet. Manx narrowed her eyes and her hand tightened on the gun. She looked at the man then at the wall, it was easily a ten-foot drop, if not more and the man did it like it was nothing.

"Who are you?" Manx asked.

The man still didn't speak but he slowly walked into the light. Manx gasped and dropped her purse, weapons forgotten as she stared into the face of the man she'd never thought she'd see again.

"Peregrine…" She whispered.

The man smiled and held out a hand. "Kitada Hanae. You're all grown up." His voice was warm and gentle, just like she'd remembered.

"Peregrine…" She said again and ran into his waiting arms. "Oh god, it really is you!" She clutched him to her and drank in the strength and power emanating from the man. "It's been so long. Why had you stayed away for so long?" She murmured into his hard chest.

He held her gently until she pulled away to look up at his face. "God, Peregrine, you shouldn't be here." She moved out of his arms and looked around nervously.

"Perimeter secure." He said softly, still smiling down at her. He gently brushed away a strand of red hair from her face and caressed her cheeks tenderly. "I'm sorry about Persia." His voice was quiet and his eye filled with sadness. "If I hadn't left…" His voice trailed away, not finishing his thoughts.

"If you hadn't left, they would have killed you too." Manx said firmly. He cannot possibly take on the responsibility of Persia's death as well…his parents' death had taken too much out of him already.

He smiled sadly at her then turned his gaze in the direction she'd come from. "Quite a litter of kitties you have there." He commented with a touch of amusement.

Manx gasped and stared at Peregrine. "You know?"

He gave her a look that clearly said he was insulted. "Abyssinian, Siberian, Balinese and Bombay." He recited softly; his eye glinted with amusement once again. "Mamoru is all grown up as well. All this is making me feel old, Kitada, very old." He sighed dramatically but his eye still held a hint of playfulness.

Manx studied him for a long moment then she laughed and shook her head. "I should have known. I don't know why I should be surprised that you would keep an eye on us." She turned serious once again and frowned at him. "What are you doing, Peregrine? Why now? Why Tryffin?"

Peregrine did not answer right away but continued to watch her. When he did speak, it was not to answer her question. "It's just Ceilen now, Kitada…or should I say Manx?"

"I'm just Kitada to you, Ceilen. Manx is something that happened after you left. But I am Manx too."

Ceilen nodded his understanding. In their business, it wasn't possible to separate the two identities; they were different aspects of the same person. He turned his attention back to the Koneko again, his features thoughtful. "Will they be sent after me?"

"I don't know." Manx said. "I hope not, I'm kind of fond of them."

Ceilen smiled. "I won't hurt them…much."

"Ceilen, I'm serious! These kids are good but not only that; I know others will be sent after you…from some place else. From somewhere that can't be traced back to Kritiker."

"I'm hurt." Ceilen clutched at his chest. "You've lost faith in me little Kitada!"

Manx smiled and shoved at Ceilen playfully. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not so little anymore! And it's not that I'd lost faith, you DID say you were getting old." God, being with him again was like old times…like he hadn't left them. Manx could still see the young man who had covered for her when she screwed up a report. He was the best of them.

"I said that seeing you and Mamoru all grown up is making me feel old. When I left, he was just a little kid and so were you!"

Manx smiled up at the man she had worshiped all of her adolescent life. This was the man she aspired to be like, the man who had set so many standards that no one even came close to comparing. The man who never did anything without a reason.

Peregrine was back and he was hiding something.

"A lot of us were very upset when you left." She said, looking directly into his beautiful brown eye. "But we understood. I rooted for you all the way." She said with smile then it disappeared suddenly and her eyes went wide. "Oh god, Ceilen, I'm sorry about Kappa and the girl you guys were hiding."

Ceilen looked away suddenly and Manx could see his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching. "I'm sorry, Ceilen, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

When Ceilen turned back to her, his face was composed. His eye was shuttered and a neutral mask was firmly in place when he said, "It's okay. I've learned to live with my mistake, ne? Involve no one."

"Ceilen…"

"Look, this one is mine. Don't bring anyone into this, not them, not you." He had leaned in close as he spoke and his fierce eye pinned her speechless to the spot. "Don't get involved." He said firmly and waited for her to consent.

"Ceilen, what are you talking about?" Manx was not going to agree without knowing all the details. "Oh my god…Ceilen you're not the…" Manx took a deep breath and held it as she asked, "Ceilen, did you kill Shitahara?"

Ceilen didn't speak but stared hard at her. "What if I said yes?"

Manx took an involuntary step back, her mind numb. "Why? Are you finally going after the Syria faction themselves? Are you eliminating them one by one?"

Ceilen cocked his head to one side as he continued to study her. "What does it matter? He was killing innocent people; YOU sent your little kittens in to finish him. Why does it matter if it was I who did it?"

"It mattered because you left us. You're not an assassin anymore.  From what I could dig up of you, and I'm sure you allowed it, I know you're into protecting people now. Taking out their factories and screwing up their deals are not the same as eliminating them." Ceilen lifted an elegant brow at her comment. "Yes, I know about SOME of your activities…not a lot, you're very good at hiding them, Ceilen, that's why I can't believe you did this. You had no reason to…and the bodyguards? You've never killed anyone except the target, not even when they tried to kill you. Not even when they took out your eye!" Manx shook her head stubbornly. "I refuse to believe it!"

Ceilen smiled at her and shook his head. "You haven't changed one bit. You're the one who thought I killed Shitahara and now you're arguing against yourself."  He shook his head again.  "I didn't do it, Kitada but this one is still mine. Don't get involved, and don't send your boys. You don't want them to get hurt." He said the last sentence softy, his eye boring into hers.

Manx glared at him. "Are you threatening us, Peregrine?" Her chilly voice was low and serious as she switched back to his code name.

Ceilen sighed and shook his head again. "No, Manx." He said HER code name clearly, leaving no doubt that they were in mission mode. "The threat is not from me. Stay away." He took several steps back, his eye never leaving her face. "I don't want you or Mamoru hurt." Then without facing away from her, he jumped back up on the wall and stood looking down at her. Manx gasped in astonishment, not understanding how he did that. He wasn't even looking where he was going…

"It's good to see you again, Kitada Hanae." He said softly before he ran off along the top of the wall and disappeared into the night.

"God, it's damn good to see you too, Ceilen…" Manx whispered back. "Damn good."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Kouji, come to bed." Tryffin called irritably from the bed to his lover who was pacing back and forth on the balcony. He knew Kouji was still upset that two men had sneaked in and out of his domain without so much as a dog barking but he didn't know how to make Kouji feel better. The fact that someone had gotten close enough to Tryffin to plant a tracking device didn't help his lover's mood either.

"Damn it!" Kouji muttered angrily as he slammed the cell phone shut and stepped into the bedroom. He ran a hand across his tired eyes and through his thick dark hair and sighed. "Where the hell is he?"

"Who?" Tryffin asked as he lifted the blanket and patted the bed next to him.

Kouji did not speak but got out of his robe and slipped between the sheets next to the redhead.

"Who were you trying to call?" Tryffin didn't like what he was suspecting. Kouji couldn't be trying to call…Ceilen?

Kouji turned to face Tryffin and lifted a hand to trace the younger man's jaw line delicately. "How long have we been together, Tryf?" Kouji asked him quietly.

Tryffin shrugged. "Three, four years?" He frowned at the seriousness in Kouji's demeanor.

Kouji smiled. "I still remember the cocky teen who tried to proposition me. Look at how he's grown." Kouji pulled Tryffin towards him for a lingering kiss. Then Kouji pulled away gently and caressed Tryffin's lips with his thumb. "I'd like to see that teen grow even older, Tryffin. I don't want him to get hurt because I can't protect him."

Tryffin pushed the older man away angrily. It was the same shit again. He wasn't some damsel in distress that needed constant watching. He was twenty-one years old, for god's sakes! "I don't want to hear this shit, now, Kouji, I mean it! You've been spouting it for hours. Ever since he left!"

Kouji sighed and got up. He swung his feet onto the floor with his back to Tryffin. "I can't help it, Tryf." Kouji's voice was hard. "My men and I are good at what we do, at our level. This is some international shit that I've never wanted to come near and now it's staring me right in the face!" He ran a hand through his tousled hair again and got up. He turned to face the younger man and Tryffin could see the fear on Kouji's normally carefree face. "These people fucking take out the House members and nothing can touch them. You think we have a chance facing opponents like that? I don't want you to get hurt."

Tryffin got off the bed and came up to Kouji, not minding that he was completely naked. "I don't want to get hurt either but I trust you more than I do that guy." Even as he said the words, Tryffin wasn't sure that it was true. He wasn't sure of anything when it came to Ceilen and that irritated him more than anything. He hated himself for wanting to go with the guy, eventhough if in the end he had chosen to stay with Kouji.

Kouji pulled Tryffin against him and buried his face in the younger man's fiery hair. "I don't trust me." He murmured into Tryffin's hair.

At that moment, Kouji's cell phone rang and the men broke apart, Kouji going for the phone while Tryffin sat down on the bed looking wary.

"Yeah." Kouji said tiredly into the phone, then his face lit up. "Where are you…WHAT?!?" Kouji grabbed his robe and rushed out onto the balcony, looking around frantically. Tryffin frowned and pulled the blanket around him before following Kouji outside.

"I don't fucking believe it!" Kouji was saying into the phone as he continued to scan the darkness around the house. Tryffin pulled the blanket tighter around him and looked out into the trees as well.

"What's going on?" Tryffin asked and Kouji turned sharply toward him.

"What the hell are you doing out here?" Kouji hissed fiercely as he shoved the redhead back into the bedroom. "Stay clear of the windows." Kouji instructed before turning to the balcony once more.

But before Kouji could go back out, a figure immerged from the darkness and landed softly on the balcony.

Tryffin could have sworn his heart stopped. Then it started again, beating at a rate that Tryffin had never experienced.

Ceilen stood staring at them silently, his long black coat billowing gently in the night breeze. The man was almost shrouded in darkness, his expression made even more dangerous by the dark eye patch. Tryffin couldn't help the way his heart wanted to jump out of his chest and his body tingled with excitement at the sight of the man. He hated it yet he was thrilled by it at the same time. He was really fucked up.

"I…was looking for you." Kouji told Ceilen quietly.

Ceilen nodded but didn't say anything.

"Kouji…" Tryffin tugged at his lover's robe.

Ceilen's single eye slid to Tryffin and the redhead gulped audibly, his protest to Kouji completely forgotten. The mysterious Ceilen moved into the bedroom and slid the glass door shut. He then turned and drew the curtain. "You really should stay away from open windows." He told the two men as he turned to face them.

"Have you changed your mind?" Ceilen asked Tryffin, his expression gave nothing away. The man was inscrutable eventhough Tryffin prided himself in his ability to read people.

"…No." He said uncertainly. He glanced at Kouji and his lover was frowning at him.

"Yes." Kouji said firmly. "I'm paying, so I'm the client. He goes."

"Nani??" Tryffin shouted at his lover causing the men on the other side to pound on the door.

Kouji yelled reassurance to his men and turned back to Tryffin. "I trust him." Kouji said simply. "This is for the best." He walked up to the redhead and pulled Tryffin to him. "While I know you're safe, I can do some digging and put whoever it is that killed Shitahara behind bars." Kouji bent down and kissed Tryffin softly. "I can't do that if I worry about you."

"But...but…" Tryffin tried to protest but he knew he was out numbered.

Kouji turned to face Ceilen who was watching them silently. "What are you going to do?"

"He comes with me. No calls, no contacts, no exceptions. When everything is over, I'll return him here. Until then, he doesn't exist." The man said impassively, as if he was reciting something for the millionth time. Tryffin had to wonder if THAT wasn't the case. If he was really that good, maybe he had done this a million times…

"When are you leaving?" Kouji tightened his hold on Tryffin and Ceilen narrowed his eye.

"Now."

"What?" This was from Tryffin. "I have to pack…" Tryffin stopped short when Ceilen shook his head.

"Whadda ya mean, 'no'?" Tryffin scowled at the one-eyed wonder.

"You're taking nothing with you." He pulled off his long coat and tossed it at Tryffin who caught it with an indignant yelp when he nearly dropped his blanket.

"Wear this until we can get you supplies. I'll not risk taking any devices with us." Ceilen told the redhead sternly.

"You're a fucking nut case, do you know that?" Tryffin said sourly. He looked pointedly at Ceilen, wanting the man to turn around but Ceilen stared at him coldly, not moving.

"Fine!" Tryffin huffed and dropped the blanket giving both Kouji and Ceilen an eyeful. Kouji groaned and shook his head at his spitfire lover while Ceilen flicked his eye down Tryffin's body coolly. When the eye came back up to Tryffin's amber ones, it clearly showed boredom.

Tryffin seethed as he pulled on the long black coat. All murderous thoughts disappeared instantly as he was surrounded by the achingly familiar scent on the coat. Unconsciously, he pulled the collar over his face and inhaled deeply. The subtle sensation of nostalgia enveloped his senses, making him feel like he was home, safe and utterly loved.  Something else tugged gently at the back of his mind and Tryffin tried to grasp it but before he could identify the feeling, it eluded him again. Frowning at the mystery, he looked up and caught the icy brown eye watching him. Shit. Now he's gonna think I'm sniffin' his clothes. Tryffin groaned at the thought but unconsciously pulled the coat more securely around his naked frame.

When he was done buttoning up, he spread his arms wide and turned to Kouji. "How do I look?" He asked, smiling broadly at his lover.

"Ridiculous." Kouji told him with a shake of his head. "Be careful, kiddo."

"Yeah, you too." Tryffin said and swallowed a lump in his throat. He had never thought that it would come to this.

They looked as though they wanted to do more but Ceilen hadn't budged and was still watching them from a few feet away. Finally Ceilen turned and went to the French window and pulled the curtain open slightly. He peered outside and waited discretely while the two men said their good byes.

Tryffin's lips lingered on Kouji's and he slipped his hand between the folds of the older man's robe and gave Kouji's cock a firm squeeze. "Don't forget me." He whispered against the other man's mouth.

"Not fucking likely." Kouji said as he pressed his growing arousal into Tryffin's hand.

"Ahem."

They broke apart guiltily and found Ceilen frowning at them disapprovingly.

"Er…sorry." Kouji muttered and pushed Tryffin in Ceilen's direction, smacking the redhead's bottom for good measure.

Tryffin rubbed his rear and threw a wicked grin at his lover. "Think of me tonight while you take care of that little problem, okay?" He looked pointedly at Kouji's crotch and winked.

Ceilen's frown was still in place when he slipped through the curtain, pulling Tryffin with him. Tryffin was surprised to find that the man had opened the glass window. When the hell had that happened?

"Um…why aren't we using the door?" Tryffin looked around the empty balcony and out into the darkness nervously.

"No one knows I came." He pulled Tryffin against him and the redhead eeped in surprise. "SH!"

"Don't fucking shush me!" Tryffin hissed back as he was pressed unbelievably close to Ceilen. He could almost feel every single muscle on the man's body… "What the hell are you doing?"

"Sh!" Ceilen shushed him again but before Tryffin could reply, Ceilen pressed a hand firmly over his mouth and jumped -- with Tryffin in his arms -- a good measure away and landed gently on a branch of the tree Aya and Ken had used. If Kouji was serious about beefing up his security he'd better start by cutting down that damn tree!  What the hell was this guy? Tryffin stared in horror at the man.

If Ceilen knew his thoughts he never acknowledged it but continued to scan the area for Kouji's men. After a minute or so, he turned to Tryffin and asked, "Will you remain quiet?"

Tryffin nodded, his eyes still fearful. Ceilen removed his hand slowly and nodded in satisfaction when Tryffin kept quiet.

Tryffin stared at the balcony fifteen feet or so away, then back at Ceilen, his eyes impossibly wide. "How…how did you do that?" He asked breathlessly.

Ceilen turned his attention from their surroundings to Tryffin, his eye holding just a touch of amusement. "Lots of practice." He said softly.

Tryffin opened his mouth to reply but Ceilen placed a slender finger firmly against his lips. Tryffin suppressed the urge to kiss the finger, his face heating up with anger at his own confusing thoughts and emotions. Lashing back at the man who was the cause of all the turmoil, Tryffin made a threatening gesture of biting off Ceilen's finger. If that man shushed him one more time…he just might.

Ceilen leaned into him, his hard body pressing against Tryffin as he whispered into the redhead's ear. "You promised to stay quiet."

Tryffin shrank from the man but he was already pressed up against the tree trunk. He wanted to push Ceilen away but before he had the chance, the man got up, pulling Tryffin with him.

Then Ceilen dropped out of the tree silently and stood looking up at Tryffin from the ground.

Hell, no! Tryffin shook his head and gave the man his middle finger. But now of course he was stuck in the fucking tree! He looked around for a safer way down and finding none, looked angrily down at Ceilen. The one-eyed wonder looked irritated and beckoned for Tryffin to jump down.

Okay, so it wasn't all that high but he wasn't a fucking monkey, damn it!

Tryffin's decision was made for him when he saw Ceilen about to climb back up the tree. Oh, like HE needed to be rescued by Mr. Sensitive, here. He shifted uncomfortably as the sharp part of the tree bark dug into his bare feet. He took a deep breath and looked down at the ground one more time. If the man could drop like a leaf, so could he…maybe.

Tryffin jumped.

And landed on Ceilen.

It surprised him how quiet they were as they lay on the hard ground breathing hard. Correction, Ceilen lay on his back with Tryffin half sprawling on top of him.

"Itai." Tryffin breathed and pushed himself off of his brand new bodyguard. His gaze fell on the prone Ceilen and hoped he didn't break anything. Ceilen's eye was open and he was looking at Tryffin strangely.

Tryffin muttered an apology. Still rubbing at his elbow. He was about to move away when they heard rustling sounds from the brush to their left. Tryffin looked back towards Ceilen in alarm and felt the man's hand clamping over his mouth once more. Then Ceilen pulled him down against his chest and rolled them toward another brush. When they stopped, Ceilen was lying on top of him, his hand still pressed firmly across Tryffin's mouth.

Tryffin was too stunned to be indignant and it was rather pointless anyway since the man's attention was focused on the ensuing commotion as Kouji's men rushed to the scene. Tryffin groaned inwardly. This was no good; they couldn't even get out of the compound!

Ceilen removed his hand from Tryffin's mouth and pressed his cheek against Tryffin then whispered, "Remain perfectly still." The man himself froze in place on top of the dazed redhead. Tryffin could not imagine how staying still was going to do any good. The place was crawling with Kouji's men by this point and he felt the spotlight passed over them several times. It was only a matter of time before they were found.

But they weren't. Seconds turned to minutes and they were still not discovered. Tryffin was too shocked to notice that he had grabbed onto Ceilen's sweater with both hands and his face was deeply buried in the crook of Ceilen's neck.

What he did notice was that it was now completely silent and they still hadn't moved. The strangely familiar scent surrounded him once again and he unconsciously burrowed deeper into Ceilen's neck. A mistake. Ceilen stiffened and pushed himself up, his elbows planted firmly on both sides of Tryffin's head. He gazed into Tryffin's eyes and the redhead had to remind himself to breathe. It was too dark to see the emotion behind that single eye but Tryffin knew that even if it were broad daylight, he wouldn't be able to tell anyway.

They remained frozen like that with Ceilen staring down at him for several seconds before Ceilen looked away and scoured their surroundings. When satisfied, he got gracefully to his feet and held out a hand for Tryffin. The redhead stubbornly ignored the offered helping hand and clumsily stood up. They didn't say anything to each other but Tryffin couldn't help wondering how on earth they had gotten away with it. Maybe Kouji's men WERE really bad.

Ceilen led them carefully through the forest that was the Hideout's haven. By the time they were out of Kouji's property, Tryffin's feet were sore. He was sure he had more than a few cuts on them but he'd be damned if he would complain to the cold bastard. When they'd gotten to the main road, Ceilen ushered Tryffin to the small, compact black car parked on the street. Tryffin couldn't identify the make of the car and there was no license plate. He sneaked a glance at the man who had him by the elbow and wondered if the man ever did anything legally.

The car was a two-door sedan with heavily tinted windows. Tryffin could not see into the car even with it parked directly underneath the streetlight. The car didn't seem to be locked, Ceilen pressed his thumb against the door handle and the car hissed softly before the door opened. Tryffin took a step back but was urged forward again by Ceilen who helped him into the dark interior of the car. When Tryffin was seated, Ceilen closed the door, walked to the driver's side and climbed in.

Tryffin was speechless. Which said quite a lot about what he was experiencing. He wasn't in a car. He was in a fucking airplane AND some. The lights and a bunch of other gadgets on the dashboard did not belong in a car and Tryffin glanced sideways at his companion again. Who the hell was this guy?

"Put on your seatbelt." Ceilen told him in a neutral tone as he started the car and pulled onto the street. Tryffin reached over his left shoulder and was actually surprised that the seatbelt was quite normal. The rest of the car was awesome!

"Dude! Where the hell did you get this car?" Tryffin reached over to touch a particularly shiny neon green button. Before he could reach his target, Ceilen reached over and grabbed his hand.

"Don't touch anything."

Tryffin snatched his hand away from the searing heat he felt in Ceilen's grip. He rubbed it unconsciously and scowled at the other man.

"You have NO concept of personal space, you know that?"

Ceilen didn't say anything for a while then he turned and stared at Tryffin.

"Hey!" Tryffin shouted. "Keep your fucking eyes on the road, man!"

Ceilen blinked at him a few seconds more before turning his attention back to the road.

"Fucking idiot!" Tryffin muttered. "You're supposed to protect me or kill me?"

Ceilen did not answer but Tryffin could tell by the way the man gripped the steering wheel that he was pissed. Good.

"Where are we going?" Tryffin asked after a short silence.

Ceilen sighed but didn't offer an answer.

"Dude, I need clothes, shoes, some personal stuff and have you fucking seen my feet? Oh yeah, a first aid kit would be good too."

Silence.

"Hel~lo!"

Nothing.

"Do you have a radio?"

Ceilen sighed again in exasperation and slammed on the breaks, stopping the car in the middle of the road. He turned to look at Tryffin with something akin to disbelief in his eye. "Do you EVER stop talking?"

Tryffin grinned. "Only when my mouth is full." His grin got wider at the surprised look on Ceilen's face.

Ceilen turned back to his driving abruptly and Tryffin burst out laughing. So, there WAS something that made the man lose his cool. Tryffin filed that information away for future use and began asking questions again.

Fifteen minutes later Tryffin found them at a secluded park overlooking the bay. He frowned and looked around the car but couldn't see anyone or anything else. Nani?

Ceilen got out of the car and closed the door. Tryffin groaned and looked piteously at his feet before doing the same. He seriously hoped that his last comment about how he kept quiet wasn't giving the man any strange ideas… But then again…he didn't think THAT was a bad thing.

Ceilen turned away from Tryffin and leaned his back against the side of his car. Tryffin took this opportunity to study the man silently. Ceilen looked wiry, but powerful in his black tight-fitting turtleneck sweater. He wasn't built like a body builder but Tryffin had felt the strength of those arms first hand… He gulped and willed his heart to stop beating so erratically.

"I suggest you get back in the car." Ceilen said without turning around.

"Why are we here?" Tryffin asked as he looked around the deserted park again. He should be nervous that Ceilen might turn him over to the guy who was trying to kill him…but he wasn't. The thought flickered across his mind briefly and dissolved almost immediately. He didn't know how he knew but he was sure Ceilen would never do something like that.

"We're testing a theory." Ceilen said softly. "Get in the car."

"What theory?" Tryffin didn't move.

Ceilen actually pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in resignation. He turned to the redhead with unsuppressed irritation and growled. "Do you EVER do as you're told?"

Tryffin grinned. "Depends on the motivation."

Ceilen closed his eye and rubbed his temples tiredly. "The motivation is life. Is that good enough for you?" Ceilen turned to Tryffin and pointed to the headlights coming their way. "If I'm right, we are being followed and those guys are going to try to kill you. Now get in the god damn car!"

Tryffin looked up the road and sure enough there was a set of headlights coming their way. He reached for the handle and pulled. And pulled again.

"Er…it's locked."

Ceilen looked like he could scream. Very loudly. He grunted angrily and reached for his own door handle. Seconds later Tryffin's door popped open and he scrambled inside. His immediate danger being the fierceness he saw in Ceilen's eye and not the impending danger coming down the road.

Once Tryffin settled in the car, he saw that the headlights were getting bigger and coming straight for them. He turned to see Ceilen leaning against the car casually as if he hadn't a care in the world and wondered if the man was sane. He looked around the car to see if he could find anything he might be able to use as a weapon but the car was completely empty. Tryffin steeled himself for a fight and knew that if it came down to that, there was no way he could leave Ceilen to fight alone.

The huge SUV pulled up next to the car and even though Tryffin knew they couldn't see him; he flinched just a little anyway. Four burly men stepped out of the car and headed for Ceilen. The man stood unmoving as he waited for them.

Tryffin felt his heart race in his chest as he watched what he was sure was going to be the end of Ceilen. The men stopped in front of his soon to be dead bodyguard and Tryffin clenched his fists tightly. He heard muffled sounds as the men began talking.

After a few seconds, the men obviously didn't like what they'd heard because one of them rushed Ceilen and Tryffin felt his heart stop for the second time that night. The next thing he saw was Ceilen executing a perfect back flip and landing gracefully on top of the large SUV. The four men turned and shouted chaotically while pulling out various weapons. Tryffin didn't see Ceilen packing any hardware and before he could stop himself, he opened the driver side door, slamming into one of the assailants.

Ceilen cursed as one of the thugs dragged Tryffin out of the car and threw him against the SUV. Tryffin didn't have time to worry about how pissed Ceilen was, he had problems of his own. He ducked the side of ham that thug #3 had for an arm, side stepped to the left and kneed the man in the groin. When the man doubled over, he kneed him in the chin and winced when he heard something crack. Oops.

"Tryffin, duck!"

At the warning yell from Ceilen, Tryffin instinctively dropped to his knees and swiped out with his leg at thug #4 who had recovered from the car door. Tryffin's leg knocked the man off his feet but before he could get up, Ceilen dropped down next to the thug and pinched a nerve at the base of the man's neck, effectively putting the man out of commission for a while.

When Tryffin got to his feet, he looked around the area and found that Ceilen had taken out the other two thugs. Well, the man wasn't half bad, he thought. He turned back to said man and involuntarily took a step back.

Ceilen was looking at him as though HE were one of the thugs! Yikes!

Ceilen stalked menacingly towards Tryffin and stopped just inches away. "What were you doing?" Ceilen asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Helping?" Somehow Tryffin was sure that wasn't the right answer.

"I said to stay in the car." Ceilen reached out and grabbed Tryffin by the arm and shoved the younger man back to his car and pushed him inside. "Stay IN the car!" Tryffin winced as Ceilen slammed the door on him and watched indignantly as his bodyguard searched the fallen bodies then climbed into the SUV. He couldn't see what Ceilen was doing but he knew it involved lots of ripped wires and…was that something smoking…?

Ceilen climbed back out and came back to his own car. Tryffin looked the other way when the man got into his seat and studiously examined the tiny speck of something he found on the window.

Ceilen started the car and left the park without a word. Tryffin bit his lips, determined not to ask any questions. Minutes passed and Ceilen still hadn't said anything. Tryffin stole a glance at his bodyguard and noticed that Ceilen's hand had blood on it.

"You're hurt." He said and shifted in his seat to face the other man. He reached out without thinking and took a hold of Ceilen's hand.

Ceilen took a sharp breath and moved his hand away. "It's nothing."

"It's bleeding."

"I know, but it's nothing." Ceilen reached into glove compartment by Tryffin's knees and pulled out some tissues. Tryffin took the tissues from Ceilen and took a hold of the injured hand again.

"You concentrate on driving." He told Ceilen as he proceeded to clean the wound. "I told you we need a first aid kit."

Ceilen stared at Tryffin for a long moment before he gave a short laugh and shook his head.

Tryffin felt something warm and fuzzy grow at the pit of his stomach as he watched the coldness disappear briefly from Ceilen. The man was breathtaking when he laughed and Tryffin was sure he had never, in his entire life, heard any sound more beautiful than Ceilen's laughter.

If Tryffin thought he was screwed up before, he was positive now.



TBC…

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thank you! I hope you like it! *twists hands together nervously* Tryffin and Ceilen will be together from this point onward… I really do hope they don't kill each other…


Now let see… should I work on WK's fourth chapter or Gundam Wing's second chapter… decisions, decisions…