(11/13/05)
Disclaimers: Once I'm done with these bishies, I'll ship them back! I just can't guarantee their state of mentality when returned . . . .
Note: This Chapter's dedicated to Nekosune in honor of her Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Now where's my share of the cake? –smile smile—
-x.x.x-
Fearful
Chapter 8
-x.x.x-
"Niichan!" She clung onto her brother's arm after spotting his striking red hair from half a mile away (so she's exaggerating) from her class on the third floor before the day ended.
Everyday after school, Ran would wait up for his imouto and the two Fujimiya siblings would walk home together . . . .
"Aya." Ran nodded in acknowledgement, allowing a tiny small smile to surface for the merest of seconds before vanishing into faint scowl at the sight of oncoming 'fangirls' appearing around the school gates.
"Eeee! It's Ran-sama!" several of the hormone-raging female teenagers annoyingly squealed.
. . . . with rabid fans chasing after him. One would think after being on the receiving end of the Death Glare, one would be petrified and run away. That was not the case for these people. When will they get the hint?
"Let's go," the senior abruptly turned around with the giggling extra bodily luggage in tow.
"Wait, Ran-sama! Don't leave us!"
-x.x.x-
"Wow, niichan! You have more fangirls!" Aya snickered once they rounded the corner and ducked into a nearby convenient, spying horde of squealing teenagers and scattered males stamping by, "A few more fanboys, too!"
"Aya," Lilac orbs rolled in amused exasperation. Ran watched his sister unattached herself from his arm, dallying down the candy aisle, picking up some treats. She flashed a wide smile in his direction which only got her another roll of his eyes before he strolled over to her side. "More junk food?"
"It's not junk food, niichan!" She mock glared at the tall male, playfully punching his left shoulder. "It's called 'stocking up.' You should, too! Seeing as how skinny you are!" To prove her point, she lifted Ran's white button-up shirt, un-tucking it from his pants, prodding at his waist, feeling the ribs underneath her fingertips. "No ounce of muscles or fat! What kind of man are you, niichan?"
"A man of modesty," He raised a brow as he plucked the hem of his shirt from Aya's fingertips, neatly tucking it back to its former place. "We're in public, Aya." The redhead relieved the younger girl of her burden, carrying the treats to the register. Before Ran disappeared beyond the walkway leading to the register, he glanced back at his imouto, "I do have physique, if that is what you are getting at."
"Nyah!" Aya stuck her tongue out childishly before he disappeared. "That wasn't what I meant!" After a few moments, she followed after.
-x.x.x-
"Aren't you supposed to be working on your homework?"
"I already did it."
"Home with okaa-san?"
"Otou-san."
"Oh. So you're stuck with me now?"
"Yup."
"Well, if you're going to stay here, might as well help, ne, Omittchi?" Ken ruffled the boy's hair.
Somehow Ken had found a nickname for Omi: Omittchi. At first, Omi thought it was insulting his height, given that it was his first impression of the nickname. After a few more times of Ken calling him that, on affectionate and humorous times, Omi had a liking to it, though the blonde teenager made it clear that his oniichan can only use it when it's between them two.
"Nani? But-" The youthful blonde dropped his arm on the counter as he head snapped up. However, Ken disappeared behind the counter before Omi could even start on his protest, but it would've ended up fruitless, anyways. You could hear the rummaging of things being moved or pushed aside. He then rose holding the store's employee forest green apron with the insignia of a tree and mistletoe.
"Have fun!" The brunette released the stuff on the jaw-slacken blonde's arms and once again disappeared before grabbing the inventory clipboard.
That shattered the blonde's momentary stupor. "Niichan!" His short cry of disbelief was lost and Omi reluctantly put on the apron, finding that the length was a full foot longer than him. Curse them tall people! Ken must've known that it was too long so he allowed Omi to handle the register whereas if he was working on the inventory, he wouldn't be too much of a help aside from causing disaster area. What a thoughtful oniichan . . . .
So that left Omi by himself with the cash register, pushing some buttons to figure out what does what to make time pass even though he knew what button did what.
'What a slow day . . . .' He sighed as he closed his eyes after he finally got bored with the register. 'I just hope niichan doesn't overexert himself with the weights . . . He's fully aware of that . . . .'
-x.x.x-
Once the school day had ended, the blonde teenager found that his older brother was rubbing where his stitches were as well as sporting a light bruise on his cheek. When Ken finally drew near enough for whispers only he could hear, Omi immediately went into mother-hen mode, already forgotten that little job hunt for the time being and Nagi's comment before he left school ground rather hurriedly.
"Niichan! Daijobou desu ka? Daijobou desu ka!"
"Aa, daijobou," Ken smiled reassuringly.
But that smiled only added fuel to the fire in Omi's case. The small blonde knew fully well how his oniichan acted, and this was one of its finer examples.
Omi frowned, unhappy with the response. "Your nose is growing, niichan."
"Heh, iku zo (let's go)."
Still frowning, the youthful teenager understood what the underlying meaning meant: I'll tell you later, just not here and now.
-x.x.x-
"...so basically I would like to leave." Ken bowed his head respectfully, hoping to whatever great deity above that was still watching over him---though he had a feeling they deserted him a long time ago, but still hoped to, anyways---would be kind enough to show some sympathy and allow him to not to have another added guilty conscience to his steadily growing one. He had given the slight truth as to why he was quitting, claiming that it was affecting his grades---he wanted or rather, needed to get an athletic scholarship and that required to maintain an average of 3.5 in all academic areas (he's a junior looking to uncertain future) as well as to get a high of a score he can get in the SATs---and screwing up his priorities. Can you say 'family?'
"Ah, well," the manager scratched his head in consideration, "with you gone, I can finally whip that Chiron into shape." He paused as something struck him, "Although, I need you to be here for today. I have a town meeting that I can't get out of to attend. I'll still pay you, nonetheless."
"Okay." Ken nodded, relieved that it the transaction had went smoothly than in he had thought.
"Take care now." Grabbing his windbreaker off the counter, the manager waved before he departed down the street and disappeared in the distance.
Right away, Omi began his interrogation after clarifying that the store was empty and to be extra sure, had gotten Ken to put up the 'Be Back in 10 minutes' sign.
"What exactly happened?"
"You know, the usual. Hey, what ever happened to subtly?"
"Niichan."
Ken sighed, realizing that the little joke was useless. Just proves how determined Omi was on finding out what happened during lunch. "It's just little fight."
"Right. A little fight that left your stitches being stretched?"
"Huh? How you know?"
"It's bleeding."
"Oh. But I'm wearing black?"
"It stains niichan."
"Oh."
"Ken-niichann. Please tell me what happened!"
Ken heaved a sigh, "It was over mistaken identity, really. At least that's what I think."
"...Mistaken...identity...?"
"So what did you wanted to say that you couldn't in school, Nagi-kun?" Omi tilted his head to the side, leaning forward from his position of standing beside the school's gate, appearing to be inquisitive.
"Nothing really important . . . " Midnight blue eyes looked away as if something caught or fancied his eyes. Particles of air were in all likelihood the suspect.
The blonde chuckled and grinned, "If it wasn't then why the look of apprehension, Nagi-kun?" The silent brunette shot a glance in Omi's direction. "And if it isn't important, why not tell?"
"I think the fight is my fault."
"That's not—huh? Nani?" Sapphire orbs blinked in puzzlement. "The fight is your fault? You mean the fight with niichan and that junior?"
"Hai, my fault."
"Why'd you think that?"
"Because I know, Omi-kun. I accidentally push a freshman that was supposed to be today's piñata after an upperclassman pushed me for whatever reason. Probably to start something. Anyways, one of Kuro's flunkies only saw a glimpse of me once I took off. The back of my head, most likely."
"Nagi-kun . . .? So you mean . . . ?"
"Exactly. I should've been the one to be beaten up a pulp. Not your brother. I'd say it was over mistaken identity."
"Omi?"
"Huh? Yeah?"
"You alright? You look . . . pale."
"Hai, I'm fine . . . . That-that fight . . . It really was over mistaken identity."
"Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks so."
"Nagi-kun."
"What about him?"
"It was supposed to be him."
"Nani?"
"Nagi-kun said it was his fault---his fault that you got hurt, that it should've been him."
"Knowing that kid, I doubt he'd last a few seconds let alone take a beating. Better me than him, ne?"
"In retrospect, yes. But, niichan, aren't you-?"
"Nah, I'm fine. Like I said, better me than him."
"Anyways, this store has a first aid kit, right?"
"Yeah...why?"
"Your stitches?"
"Oh, yeah!"
"Niichann . . ." A sigh.
-x.x.x-
Grinning widely to himself and thankful that that boorish Chiron was staying after school for detention, doing who-knows-what but Chiron himself, Ken came back from the storage room, towing two boxes full of bags of chips, ready to be stocked. Unaware of having any customers, given that he had a short-attention span and had his ears turned off, Ken didn't hear the bell chime merrily while he was talking to Omi. That being said, it was no surprise that he walked into a body, thus causing the boxes to topple and its content to spill out over the two beings. A burst of familiar giggling was heard.
Ken quickly sat up and spotted Aya trying to contain her laughter with both her hands on her knees, doubled over.
'If she's here . . . . Fujimiya-san should be around somewhere . . . .'
Ocean orbs found mauve ones staring back at him with faint hints of annoyance. 'Can't blame him.'
"Gomen nasai" Ken apologized with a slightly tired voice, vaguely cursing Fate and how this week was heading straight to Hell, bowing his head as he began filling the cardboard box with its original contents.
"Hn." The taller male rose from the pile, straightening and dusting his clothes.
"Clean up on Aisle five!" Aya called out, smiling like there was no tomorrow and then frowned. "Hey, my candy bags disappeared!" Squatting in her white long skirt that was dotted with blue flowers, Aya began sifting through the bags, throwing them in the box while looking for her goodies. "Help, niichan!"
Rolling his eyes in reluctance, Ran knelt down and helped.
"You really don't have to," Ken said as if that would stop them. "I mean, it's my fault for not paying attention."
"It's not your fault, Ken-kun" She smiled brightly that could rival that of the sun.
'Her smile...so much joy and laughter...so carefree...and naïve.' Ken returned the smile with a tug at the corner of his lips, begging to widen more but he refused to, allowing only a bittersweet smile in his head. He shook his head and continued on picking the stuff up.
Lilac eyes observed the scene playing out before him, keen ears picking up subtle changes in voice as he resumed in helping the teenager.
For the moment, Ran allowed this to happen even though he internally protested the thought to analyze the brunette being. Why did he allow it? Easy---his psyche was being a complete obnoxious ass about it. The rational side of him wanted him to cast the observation aside---more preferably out the window---and concentrate at the task at hand while his---Artistic? Hopeful insight? What was he to call it? Irrational? ---curious side batted the other's thought of banishing the study altogether, profusely being hard-head---er---minded about watching the brunette.
It was a wonder that Ran hadn't gone mad yet.
Ken's endeavored smile attracted his amethyst eyes. Is he straining his smile?
Sigh.
The redhead assumed the playboy was right about him being anal-attentive to details.
Finally retrieving all of the bags, Ken stacked the two boxes up again before carrying it off to its location.
"Domo arigatou!" Ken thanked over his shoulder as he trudged his way down the aisle.
The two Fujimiya siblings collected their treats and headed over to the register.
-x.x.x-
"Omi-kun!"
"Huh?" Cerulean orbs snapped open to be greeted by blue-violet ones in his field of vision. "Aya-chan!" He subconsciously took a step back.
She giggled as she, too, took a step back. "Always will be jumpy, ne, Omi-kun?" Giving the startled blonde a once-look over, Aya queried, "You work here now?"
"Oh, um, no" He shook his head, missing the older Fujimiya sibling's presence entirely. "Since I'm here, niichan left me to do part of his work."
Ran thought it was time to make himself known, giving that he wasn't entirely too pleased of himself of holding the products without a basket. Somehow, he managed to gracefully dump the treats on the counter, still retaining his elegance. How he did that, no one would ever know, including Ran himself.
"Ah, afternoon, Fujimiya-san!" Omi did a quick bow, slightly embarrassed for not noticing the redhead. "Gomen na-"
"It's alright." Ran abruptly cut in.
"Naa, you're being rude, niichan!" Aya frowned as she poked and prodded her brother. "Omi-kun's just being polite!" From what his stare implied, Aya continued on, "Don't say that he has to be polite, because it's in Omi-kun's nature!" She turned about face to the subject of the one-sided conversation, "Right?"
"A-aa." Omi sweat dropped.
"See! Oh, yeah!" She whipped around to her brother, clinging on to his arm, looking up sweetly at him. "Niichann."
"What do you want?" A sigh escaped his lips, fully aware that his little sister wanted something.
"My ice cream!"
"Another one?"
"Yes, please!"
"Oh, alright." He was too tired to even put up a resistance so he left the two teenagers for her ice cream.
Once the redhead was out of earshot, Aya smiled unusually bright.
"Aya-chan...?"
"Isn't niichan such a pushover?"
"Um, sure?"
"Ah, I though so" She nodded sagely while cupping her chin with her thumb and index finger.
"Eh?"
"He's a 'prick' as I recall one of the students describing him?"
"He is?"
"Omi-kun, you're no help!"
"Gomen, Aya-chan," Omi seemed helpless to say anything as he scanned the bags of treats to be totaled up.
"That's how everyone views him: a cold-hearted bastard, aloof, callous, and enigmatic." There was a twinge of sadness that dripped in her voice. It didn't belong there at all, not at all with her cheerful smile and curious attitude. Then as if a switch was flipped on, Aya had her 100-gigawatt smile on. "But we all know that's not true! You just witnessed it!"
-x.x.x-
The bells cheerfully chimed, signaling another arrival of customers into the convenient store. Familiar short wavy blonde hair and a mane of vibrant orange-red tied back by a rather plain white bandana that was a striking contrast to his hair, entered.
One could only assume who the duo was . . .
"Let's see if Kenken and the bishounen can come out and play" The playboy smiled his trademark smile that would leave most females swooning and coming back for more.
"Ja" agreed the other, jade eyes scanning the parameters. "I would like that."
-x.x.x-
Grabbing the strawberry whipped ice cream from the frozen food section in the fridge, Ran turned around only to be greeted by the sight of Yohji and Schuldig, drinking soda straight from the bottle itself. Amethyst eyes rolled in exasperation once the pair of two shades of emerald fell on him.
"Ranny!" Yohji stopped his chugging and gave his best friend a lopsided grin, "Didn't expect you here!"
"Are you here to take a look at Kenken?" Schuldig smirked, licking his lips rather provocatively, "Or the kitten?"
"Avoiding the fanclub group and buying treats for Aya," Ran crisply replied as he stalked pass the two.
"Aren't you a softie?" The two playboys cooed as they followed the walking icicle.
What they saw subsequently in the next aisle was something they were not expecting.
-x.x.x-
After Ken had finish restocking the chips, he came back out of the storage room, dragging several bags of rice (the one that's 25 pounds!) to be stacked near the aisle after the drinks. Ken had to make several trips back and forth and with the average temperature of nearing but not yet seventy, excluding the humidity, it was hot and tiring. Ken could've sworn Mother Nature had cranked up the temperature without him knowing even thought it's still the beginning of spring. That and his manager didn't allow him to adjust the barometer, leaving it at a supposedly comfortable temperature of seventy flat. Damn him. Even with the windows opened and soft breeze blowing in, it didn't significantly alleviate the brunette's sweaty body.
Yet again, he was oblivious to the singing bells, fuming at the manager for not allowing him to adjust the barometer as well as wondering how the hell he was going to stack these heavy loads on top of each other to five feet without causing anymore stress to his back or bend over backward.
Feeling the sweat clinging onto dear life on his back---he had already removed his black button-up upon taking up this task---Ken took off the white shirt and apron, figuring that Omi had rung the Fujimiya siblings up and left, meaning that they were supposedly the only two in the store.
How wrong he was . . . .
-x.x.x-
What the three seniors saw was definitely unanticipated.
Aside from the fact that the brunette took off the apron and his shirt, the scars, stitches and bruises marred the otherwise, beautifully sculpted torso. It seemed that several of the stitches were recent, freshly changed and was already tinged with blood from the pressure.
Muscles rippled under the stress of stacking the twenty-five pound load, glistening rather exotically with the sweat and the stream of light the sun poured into from the window, accentuating the sinew, the curves, every part of the soccer player's perfectly toned body.
It was almost god-like.
Crouching to lift two sacks of rice at once, two of the three males had to hold in a groan, envying the pants that molded with the brunette, showing off and drawing attention to those perfect round glutens, screaming and enticing them to be touched, groped, and molested shamelessly. Rising up to drop the load on to the previous, the two males noticed the pants sunk a little lower, revealing the band of the first row of teal, white, and black plaid boxers.
'Boxer man, eh?' Those two male simultaneously thought then zealously wished that the pants sunk lower and lower and . . . .
However, the odd man out saw the view in front of him quite differently. Yet again he allowed his mind to subconsciously file it away. But this time, he wanted to know—curiosity had taken a hold of him although he kept this interest to a minimum and not surface to the public, if he could help it. It didn't help that his snooping mentality screamed and bitched at him to take it as face value, while on the other hand, his sane mentality screeched that his inquisitive mind was blowing things way out of proportions.
Ran would be most utterly grateful if his psyche would take their leave and leave him some sort of quiet reprieve.
However, that was not the case.
-x.x.x-
For them, the scenario was broken when Ken turned around, planning to go back to the storage room to get more. Once he saw three pair of eyes raking over his form, his body immediately tensed, realizing at once what they had seen. He just hoped that they wouldn't question him or anything. Although Ken had a notion that there was going to more than the tip of the iceberg . . . .
'This week is Hell.'
"What the hell are you guys gawking at?" Ken glared, hand fumbling about for his black button-up. Once his fingers felt the familiar texture of cotton, he threw it on and the apron, storming passed them without waiting for a response of some sort.
Once reality had struck him, Yohji whipped around and loudly replied with a wide smile, "Your sexy body, Kenken!"
"Shut up!"
"If that's what Kenken looks like, I wonder how the kitten will look." Schuldig thought aloud, smirking.
"Drop dead!"
"Ah, he has very good hearing, ne, Schu?" Yohji nudged his buddy. Emerald eyes roamed over to the redhead. "What do you think of Kenken?"
"I have no thoughts," was the monotone reply and the clicking of departed shoes.
'Really, Ranny? I could've sworn something flickered across your eyes...Or am I seeing things . . . again?'
-x.x.x-
Slapping down a 20, Ran swiftly said, "Keep the change. Let's go, Aya," and left the store rather quickly.
"Um, okay" Aya unsurely glanced back and forth between her departed brother and Omi who was confused as she was. "I'll see you around, ne, Omi-kun? Tell Ken-kun I said 'Bye,' kies?"
Unable to find his voice, the blonde nodded as he put the money in the register.
"Ja!" She hurried after her brother. "Niichan! Niichan! Wait up!"
'What happened, niichan?' were the thoughts of the two younger siblings.
-x.x.x-
'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,' the same four-lettered words echoed in his head continuously even as he went on with his work, purposely avoiding the two playboys. 'I'm screwed if they bring it the authorities! But, they don't seem like the type to snitch...God, I hope not!'
'This is way too soon to think so negatively, Hidaka!'
'Oh, c'mon, be realistic!'
'I am!'
'Talking to yourself is? Don't make me laugh.'
'If you laugh then I laugh, you moron.'
'Shut up.'
'Yeah, I thought so.'
'You're stupid. You're arguing with yourself.'
'Oh, shut up!'
'If I shut up, then you wouldn't have a subconscious, dumb ass.'
'Thank god for that!'
Leaving the internal conflict with himself, Ken exhaled a heavy sigh.
He really was pathetic.
Damn.
This time he heard the bells chime. The Fujimiyas must've left.
-x.x.x-
"Ah, hello bishounen!" Yohji sauntered up to the counter; shades perched on top of his head as he suggestively winked. "I should come by more often if you're going to work here."
"Ah, um, n-no, I don't work here." Omi's face was flushed while he stammered, hoping that Ken just happened to walk by and save his little brother from blushing to death. For once, he thought that it was possible to die from that. One could assume he was a living example of one.
"Hey, the kitten's mine," Schuldig playfully pushed the blonde out of sapphire eyes' field of vision. "Do you have time to play, kitten?"
"Move." Ken shoved the orange-red head out of the way, thus causing him to topple over the blonde playboy. "Oh, and pay for the drinks you two chugged."
Appearing the slightest bit ruffled, the two stood up, feigning the look of hurt. However, that vanished when harden sea-kissed eyes settled on them.
"Aa, of course!" Yohji smiled a bit too brightly that may have rivaled the stars. It just hurts to look at the blinding white...teeth, "How much?"
"For the two sodas, I'd say three bucks," was the response.
"You're paying next time, Schuldig!" The wavy haired playboy handed the exact change, winking at the petit blonde before receiving another punch.
"Ja, ja. Just stop staring at my kitten! You already have yours!"
"Kenken is being just like Ranny today!"
"Out! Out! Out!" Ken bodily shoved them out with Schuldig leading the way.
Once the German was literally out the door, it was the blonde's turn. But before Yohji took one step out the door, he halted, causing Ken to crash into him from behind.
"Hey!"
The blonde turned around and shifted his eyes downward to meet sea-kissed ones. He leaned forward.
"You're invading my personal space, Kudou" Ken growled as he clenched his fists. "Back off or you'll have a shiner tomorrow morning. That'll give you a damn good reason to wear those ridiculous shades all day."
"You should smile, Kenken" Yohji gently smiled, cupping the teenager's cheek with one hand and tenderly caressing the soft skin underneath with the pad of his thumb even though it was steadily forming into a bruise. "It's more suiting for someone like you."
With that said, the shade-donning male left of his own accord, catching up with his German buddy, acting like he had never said such words to the brunette.
-x.x.x-
For a while, he was dazed. One moment he was about ready to deck him and, after that---what was he suppose to call it? Can't really call it a 'heart to heart' moment if you don't know the other personally, would 'tête-à-tête' work? It's French for a private conversation between two people. Oh, whatever---'talk'---it seems more suiting, anyways---it left him feeling . . . . weird? Odd? Strange?
What the hell am I thinking! He rubbed his cheek as if the lingering sensation would go away or the odd feeling he felt. Ken then rubbed it hard, sufficient so it left his bruised cheek tinted with pink.
"You should smile, Kenken. It's more suiting for someone like you."
At that instant, Ken badly wanted to go back in time and floor the male before he even had the chance to say it, so the brunette wouldn't have to feel like he was lying to everyone, even to himself; deluding them that everything was fine when it's not; confronting the fact that he was constantly living in denial with or without himself knowing it. It felt that the whole damn world went upside down and was against him.
He wasn't going to give all that he had done up that easily.
Hell no.
No fucking way.
No fucking way in Hell was that going to happen.
Although, if it was to make Omi or their mother happy on his behalf, he'll take the chance and possibly bite off the hand that had given it, other than that, screw everyone.
Then . . . .
He'd have one hell of a huge guilty conscience...even one for that fight earlier today.
Damn conscience.
He heaved out yet another burdensome sigh before turning about face, heading back into the store.
-x.x.x-
Cerulean orbs watched hesitantly as the view unraveled before him. Omi was afraid that Ken would give him a right hook for leaning forward into his oniichan's space though that notion was stopped short when the taller blonde whispered something that left his older brother immobilized even after Yohji left. The petit teenager was contemplating whether or not to go and check on Ken until he rubbed his cheek for a while before turning around to come back into the store.
"Niichan...?" Omi asked tentatively. "Daijobou desu ka?"
An airily waving hand was the brunette's response, followed by, "I'm fine, Omittchi. Let's close up."
"But it's not even-"
"Don't worry about it."
"What if-"
"Omi."
Uh-oh, no 'Omittchi.' Niichan's serious.
"Okay." I hope everything's okay. I...didn't get a chance to propose the idea of that new job. I still need to find if it still has an opening. "Niichan?" The blonde asked as he handed him the apron.
"Yeah?" Ken shrugged on his white tee shirt and then the black button-up, after coming back from hanging their aprons on the provided hook in the storage room.
"I just remembered I needed to check this job to see if it's still offering."
"Need me to come along?"
"Iie. It's okay."
"Alright, then what's the job?"
"You have to wait and see niichan!"
"Fine, be home before five, kies?"
"Hai!"
-x.x.x-
"Niichan, what happened back at the store?" Aya questioned her brother as she curled up next to him, watching him a turn page in his novel.
In Ran's white-washed bedroom, one could find Ran leaning up against the headboard, reading a novel with his reading glasses perched on his nose---a rather cute, sophisticated, dorky look, in Aya's honest opinion---with her head on his lap, intently listening to his even breathing and the occasional page turning in the illuminated room by a single night stand.
"Nothing, Aya."
"Niichann" She faintly whined, looking up at him. "I see up your nose." The girl then stifled a giggle.
The redhead marked his book, closed it, and lightly bonked it on his imouto's head with a slight smile. "Nice to know."
"Well?" The blue-violet eyed stared up at him expectantly.
"'Well' what?"
"Niichan!"
"What?"
"Ahh! You're so-so! Argh!" A childish pout form and Aya stuck out her tongue.
"Thank you."
"Niichann!"
-x.x.x-
"What did you say back there at the store?" Jade green orbs glanced over to the taller male as the pair made their way down the red district, some blocks away from the supposedly prestigious public school that really wasn't.
Lighting up a cigarette, Yohji billowed out a wave of smoke before replying, "Just telling him to smile more." He winked to a few passing ladies, who giggled, from behind his shades, almost appearing to be one of those models you see in the stylish fashion magazines with him wearing only a black sleeveless vest, exposing his firm and enticing light tanned torso, snug low-riding black pants with a black studded belt tilted at an angle, emphasizing his lithe figure and a single black thin band around his upper right arm, giving off impression that he had a rebellious nature against society's standard.
Which he did, of course.
Who wouldn't be?
Ah, I could name a few...
An eyebrow cocked up in skepticism. "Really now? I could've sworn you whispered something naughty to him since it rendered him entirely speechless."
Schuldig, on the other hand, instead of donning his usual outrageous clothing of vibrant colors that would probably make fashion designers scream in downright horror, he opted for a fitted white v-neck shirt with calligraphy of 'It's funny how you think I'm listening to you' boldly across his chess, inviting low-riding black leather that hugged at all the right places, trading the plain white bandanna for its counter-partner; a black one with strange but interesting designs, and a silver cross for a pendant on a long black necklace that was looped several times around his neck at varying sizes.
"I was planning on that" the other grinned in mischief, "but it seemed like he would probably be true to his words of giving me a black eye."
"Tut tut," The German grinned equally in his direction and then turned to face the building where the two were of valued customers: Seduction; a club on the first floor; private rooms on the second; brothel on the third. "Shall we proceed?"
"After you, Schu."
"But, of course!"
-x.x.x-
"Do you still have an opening here?"
"Yes. It seems as if no one is interested in this part-time job..."
"Don't worry! This is one of my niichan's many hobbies!"
"When can he start, dear?"
"Tomorrow!"
"That's good! I have some deliveries to be made tomorrow. I hope he doesn't mind."
"Ken-niichan won't mind, he always likes to help!"
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(Finished on 11/06/05) Wow, 3,000+ words in one sitting! The other 1,000 was two nights ago! Yay! I made the next update just in time for your birthday, Nekosune! Phwee! I actually made it before the deadline! Now am not so sure about next update...
Hmms, anyways, this chapter was mostly on character interaction, but it was rather fun, imagining how it'll play out. Muaha. Not sure if you'd consider this one a cliffie? O.o But, what is this new job offering? And all the other questions you're going to bombard me with? (insert suspense music)
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NEKOSUNE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (runs around and run) It's okay about the language! Just shows how happy you are and thus, cannot find the right word to describe it! YAY! More cookies, pockies, AND yamyams as well as cake! You're spoiling me here! xD
artemis347: xD Danke! Yup, Kenken is in class with Ranny and Crawford! xD Yesh, VERY sexy! I didn't get another's block! Yay! It's okay to take long to reply, I know we got something called 'Life' banging on the door! --looks at door warily-- Your welcome!
Feilian: Yes, he sure does have a shitty life and it's gonna get even shittyier...Uh, wait, I didn't say that!
yuffiegal23: Danke for compliment and for lovin' this story! Hehe, what is going to happen to Omittchi? Buwahaha!
Gillian Sillis: Yay, I updated once again! Muaha, hope this latest installment answers your questions of the fight! O.O Rabbit stew! Hey! I need those plot bunnies to keep on making more twists and turns! LOL, sankyuu for thinking so for the fight scene! (I agree! We should do that! But then...he's part of my plot bunnies' idea...) Really? Wow! I should try downloading that song! Yup, our Kenken is a pro! Would you believe me that Kenken took marital arts classes? (whistles) Okay, more like home-learning through Omi's way of technology. Yeah, it really is entertaining to watch when his own force or power is used against him so effortlessly. Ahaha, yes, Omittchi's really smart! Yup, definitely the technology branch (do I hear secret services techie? Hehe) LOL, yes, so sad about the senior being the future generation! (sees world coming to an end but Ran saves it xD) Ah, that 'red flag' meant that after the first day, Ken's wary about it so he's cautious. Hmm, you just gave me an idea...xD
Ah, yes, cowardice rears its ugly head but Ken takes it by the horn and wrestled it to the ground! I loathe people who initiate a fight, yet have back up and fight dirty—especially when the opponent doesn't want to participate in it. (grin) Yah, Kuro got a (single) beating of his life! Nah, I wouldn't want to get on Kenken's bad side!
Sankyuu for the compliment! xD Yesh, me is the same too once I get riled up, all thoughts of sanity went out the window and took a left at the corner street store! Yes, that's a good analogy! xD I feel the same way! xD Muahaha!
Joe Shmoe is another way of saying the average joe, average people, normal, etc. I should've put a footer note for that...T.T
Yeah, I learned about the miscommunication in gossip in Health Class. So funny how one thing can be a completely another thing, adding their own variation of it, and in the end, the story had a huge makeover. LOL.
Your curiosity of Nagi's question is now answered! With Yohji's way of thinking, I somehow doubt that possibility of other thoughts beside anything sex oriented, however this chapter proved us wrong...or did it? Ohoho, someone is picking up the scent of trail Yohji is leaving behind! Your right, everyone has their own intellect, even Yohji-kun. Danke for the compliment of the analogy on Kenken! LOL, I enjoy reading your interpretation of Yohji-kun! xDD Ahah, yes, an ice pack definitely have its uses! Yeah, in a sense Ran does view him highly of himself, without him realizing it...until someone later in the story points that out rather forthcoming. Buwahaha! Ken pulled his punches because, despite being short-tempered, he didn't want to seriously injure Kuro (even though I was planning to write it that way) but to show him up a bit.
LOL, good idea! We shout really enroll Yohji's hands to a behavior course! LOL (falls off seat) Hai, I completely agree with you on Shakespeare! Yeah, I realized that once you mentioned it...(sulks) Yay, danke for the thumbs on Ken's choice of word---blob!
Hehe, was contemplating on those possibility and some more...I'm trying to think outside the box, as my History Teacher would word it. In due time we shall see the result of Kenken in Ranny's class! Keep in mind that most of the seniors don't like Kenken very well! xDD Muahaha! I think in the next chapter it should explain Omi's result in his job hunting for his niichan!
Keep your long reviews! I look forward to them! Every time I upload a new chapter, I'd check my e-mail everyday hoping it's yours! XD
DANKE SO MUCH! (glomps Gillian Sillis)
tre-chan: Sankyuu for loving this spur of the moment ficlet! Heheh, I know what you mean when you lose track who's POV it is! I try not to do that to confuse my wonderful readres! Yes, I updated! Aren't you proud! xD
carrothien: Yes, go kick some ass, Kenken! Danke and here's the next chapter!
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SANKYUU for reading! xD And Happy Early Thanksgiving if I don't update by then!